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Dear Child,
How should I introduce you to this beautiful world?
He Guan, can you find that box with bowling pins and glasses?
And a pair of giant glasses that are
bigger than the rabbit's head.
Give me another one.
It's too low! The position is off!
Shake your head.
Slower.
That's good.
A couple more times, then stop.
Rabbit, stop!
The artist's name is Maleonn.
Let me introduce my new project.
It's a piece of puppet theater.
I didn't have many books growing up,
but I remember when my father gave me "Pinocchio."
I loved this story as a kid.
A puppet becoming a real person. So romantic!
These are my parents.
A Nationalist general and a female special agent.
And this one, they're panicking on a plane.
Especially my dad's face.
They are both theater professionals,
so they got into character quickly.
Also this one.
Why am I showing you these?
The project I'm working on now, it's about them.
Director Ma,
what do you think?
Look at these tears in my eyes.
My young compatriots, you kick ass!
You guys are doing great!
Take care! Work hard!
See you next time.
Hi, Mom.
What the heck is this?
Steamed corn bread.
Made from ground maize.
It's hard to keep them from falling apart.
I think it's pretty delicious.
So tasty.
Famous director!
Doesn't matter, I still get yelled at by my wife.
I try to enlighten him. He calls it "yelling."
- Educational critiques. - Critical education.
- I guide him. - It's good for you.
On stage you are the director. In life you can use guidance.
She needs to give you guidance. You'd be lost without it.
Your mother gives me guidance.
Sounds like you want to guide me too.
Follow the guidance of the Communist Party.
Not mine!
I was the scariest director at
the Shanghai Chinese Opera Theater.
When we rehearsed, no one dared
to not give 100% on stage.
I needed to crack the whip! Like the sargeant at boot camp.
That's why I was able to direct more than 80 Chinese operas.
I feel the responsibility to share what I know.
I am writing a book about my life's work in Peking Opera.
These are the drafts I'm working on.
I'd like to get this done in the next few months.
Director Ma,
you staged 80 plus shows in your career.
Could you look back and share with us
your experience as a Peking Opera director?
I thought, How odd, this great director in Beijing,
how come he only did 40 productions?
I directed 80 in Shanghai.
I was nowhere near as good as those masters.
Why don't you tell us your concepts
on costumes, scenery, and lighting?
We want more creative details.
He keeps talking about logistical stuff,
but not about art.
They want to know how he made creative decisions.
It's no good.
He doesn't remember. Doesn't remember.
One night, I was swimming.
My dad showed up by the pool.
He asked me, "Hey, can you float on water?"
"Sure, Dad," I said. "You taught me this when I was a kid."
I showed him, and floated on my back.
I swam another lap, and he stopped and asked,
"Maleonn, can you float on water?"
I thought it was odd that he asked again.
I answered, "Yes."
After the third lap, he asked again,
"Can you float on water?"
Five times total.
Can you tell me the date?
Well... it doesn't matter to me... I don’t know.
What's today?
The day... I don't know.
Well, it's the day for my doctor's visit.
I laid in the pool, stared at the sky full of stars,
and thought about the project I promised my father.
Dear Child,
There comes a moment when we must grow up.
We suddenly realize that forever does not exist in this world.
We've always known that sense of helplessness.
Except now, we finally understand what it means.
And then what?
China National Radio. The Arts and Culture Hour.
What’s the story of the play?
Our play has two main characters:
the father and the son.
The father is losing his memory,
and the son is sad to see him confused.
The son builds a time machine so he can bring
the father back to his childhood when he was five or ten.
They go back again and again
to revisit moments in their lives.
When you grow older, you see your father growing older.
Things in your life change drastically, as if someone
swapped them when you weren’t paying attention.
So being a father motivates you?
I'm not a father yet...
- From a son's perspective then? - Yes, as a son.
We are the welcoming committee.
I brought a copy of the play for you.
Alright, thank you.
No dialogue in the play.
Just music.
I would love to get your feedback.
I'll call you with questions.
This spot? Right here?
The angle here... the shape looks great.
One more dish and we are ready to eat.
Oh crap! Damn it!
You made the scariest noise!
Today is my parents' anniversary!
Together more than half a century! Amazing!
We haven't gotten the pictures yet!
You inherited your father's tone-deafness.
He never sang Peking Opera to me when I was a kid.
You never taught me to sing. I learned it from someone else.
These are all the parts for the body?
Yes, including bolts and screws.
Large puppets all have issues with the hand.
I want more innovative ways to operate it.
For now, the hand is our biggest issue.
The hand is more complicated than we imagined.
For about ten years, I lived in my studio.
My studio is full of puppets.
I created them.
I gave them life.
I create work every day. I don't have any personal life.
After turning 40, something went wrong with my art practice.
I am still trying to figure it out.
Dear Child,
my father once told me a story
about a man named Jiang.
One night, Jiang has a dream.
A wise immortal gives him a pen in the dream.
After he wakes up, he can suddenly write brilliant prose.
Years later, Jiang has another dream.
The immortal says, “Please give me back the pen.”
After that, he could no longer write.
I am scared that someday, someone is going to
ask for my pen back.
We're here. Hi, Auntie!
Hi, Auntie. Long time no see! Long time!
- You look well. Are you doing well?
- Yes, yes.
How many years since the last time you came here with me?
20 years, about.
1994.
After I left here in '94, I cut my hair.
After '94 I went bald, just like Dad. I lost my hair.
During the Sino-Japanese War, I was seven.
We came back during the war, to see how things were.
My grandpa lived here.
There used to be a house at this spot.
It's been decades since I've been back.
Coming back to my hometown...
I get emotional just thinking about it.
We hope you are well in the afterlife.
We are working hard. We are serving the people.
We are making our lives count.
Before my brother was born,
they were immersed in their own creative work.
To me, it was like...
the political situation suddenly turned worse.
I remember an unsettling feeling...
like a dark cloud was approaching.
My husband was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution.
We artists didn't know what was in store for us.
We were grateful just to be alive.
We didn't dare to talk about art.
The artists were sent to farm cotton in the countryside.
The physical work was too intense. I couldn't handle it.
Pregnant women didn't have to do hard labor.
So I got pregnant.
The Cultural Revolution ended when I was around 5.
After that, my dad only wanted to make up for lost time.
He rarely talked to me... except to punish me.
He would invite tons of colleagues to the house.
Theater was everything. His religion. His passion.
I thought at that time, when I have a career,
I want to work with him on a project.
I thought, that is the way to get close to him.
When I was 14, he took me to the park one day.
I'd just learned to ride a bike. He was just keeping me company.
My father started talking to me that day.
I don't remember what he said exactly.
But I remember how I felt.
I felt like a grown-up.
We haven't read together for a long time.
We used to read in the attic together.
And your mom would yell at us, "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
What’s up?
Your son's beard has turned gray.
What are you talking about? Let me see.
Look! I got a bunch of gray hair.
I’m in my 40’s. My beard is turning gray.
In our first puppets, we used springs.
But the spring won't work for this new hand design.
I kept thinking about it.
I thought maybe rubber bands could work.
We can go from below.
- Wind it around the fingers? - Yes.
Here. Stabilize here first.
So flexible!
Nobody else in the world makes puppets like we do.
Not tired. Not at all. Excellent!
Right... this feels right.
Nice... very nice.
Come here.
Don't be shy.
Give me a kiss.
Now I give you one.
Good.
Dear Child,
I want to use every ounce of my energy,
every fiber of my being,
to accomplish something.
To love someone.
I know there's so much absurdity in trying to do this,
so much unknown.
Often, I think making art is the same.
Totally useless in our daily reality.
Just a way to torture ourselves.
But I keep going. Passionately. Adoringly.
Because we know we really don't have a choice.
Happy birthday to you...
Boss! Make a wish!
I want a wife!
We make good work together!
You guys have been amazing.
You've helped me so much.
This birthday dinner is just an excuse to thank you all.
Cheers!
- How old are you? - 22.
Damn! So young!
You're 37?!
You think I am still Little Lee?
I thought you were under 25!
We will never lose our youth.
If we did, we'd replenish with some fresh meat!
It's hard to carve a dome from wood.
So we used a wooden wash basin.
This piece is made from a basin.
We are figuring out how to build the plane right now.
What a big production!
Much bigger than we first planned!
We've worked on it for more than a year now.
We hope to finish the show next year and open in Shanghai.
We are killing ourselves to work faster.
Schedule is really tight. I'm nervous.
When I go into rehearsal,
I'd love to have your help for a few days.
But I haven't worked on the pre-production.
I can't just show up and supervise.
Come. Maybe you can make it better.
If we collaborate,
we need some ground rules
if we see things differently and argue.
If I get mad,
you can't just obey me like a good son.
Maybe some kind of scale to measure each situation,
so we can resolve disagreements productively.
Even if I'm not happy,
I would be fine if you don't agree with me.
I'm not a theater guy. Theater is your medium.
You guys raised me in the theater.
So I'm hoping to do a good piece of theater.
It would also fulfill my dream of collaborating with you.
Good collaborators...
they have an understanding between them.
Probably more than between a father and a son.
But I'm worried...
we've not talked this through, or... thought it out.
Maybe after that, we can work together.
Move towards the middle.
Ok. Leave it there.
Action!
"Papa, the bike is swaying."
Son, you're doing great!
It’s fascinating.
I direct humans. He directs robots.
I worked for such a long time at
the Shanghai Chinese Opera Theater.
My son... totally out of the blue!
He ventures into new creative territory.
It doesn't matter whether he dedicates it to me...
or offers it to the world.
Let me think how I can help him.
So cool.
If we practice, we can perform with this.
Several new crew members joined after the Lunar New Year.
Five or six more people will join our group.
A co-director has joined the team.
At first, Maleonn didn't know how long
it would take to do the project.
He thought, other people take three months,
then we can finish in six.
But six months was only enough to build the puppets,
so we extended to one year.
So a year and a half. Now two years. We keep extending.
The original budget doesn't apply anymore.
Money is running low. We need to find more.
We start today.
Our first official rehearsal.
Damn, it's leaking.
Places, everyone!
The sound comes on.
Papa... Yes... Airplane...
Ok... he sees the plane.
Papa.
Slower.
No, that doesn’t seem right.
Maleonn and I will show you.
Just like that.
Ok, stop.
Excellent job!
Do this with your hands.
If you don't follow your director's orders,
you'll get more stupid.
You're so full of yourself.
That’s why you're getting dumber.
- Dumber? - You're not humble.
If I were humble, I wouldn't be who I am today.
I want to invite my father to watch my play.
So you want to remind everyone to treasure
our time with our parents.
Yes. I have so much I want to say with this play.
In this story, the father is a pilot.
The son, Makuji, tries everything
to build a time machine.
Each memory the son captures means
another connection with his father.
- What do you think? - Nice.
3, 2, 1.
Hello, Maleonn?
What's going on? I don't know where you are.
These are fun.
If you've eaten, then we will eat.
I'm sorry. I'm not finished with work yet.
Oh, we were hoping you'd have dinner with us.
Nevermind, then.
He posted online a story he wrote about
you and him at the swimming pool.
"I swam one more lap, back near where he stood."
"He asked me again, 'Can you float on water?'"
"As I laid on the water, filled with sadness..."
"I need to finish that project, something he and I both wanted."
It was mild in 2012. Now it's more serious.
I am trying to write a book about
my work as a theater director.
My head is so fuzzy now. Can you give me
some medication to help me finish this book?
You are already taking those meds.
Thanks a lot.
We've already spent a lot of money on this project.
We'll need to spend a lot more to get it finished.
Another investor was going to come on board,
but he wanted control.
Why do we need some other random consultant?
My father is already the consultant.
I may need to spend more time fundraising.
But the project will keep going, regardless.
Let's see what happens on this New York trip.
Where is the case?
Oh, poor little Makuji.
I consider this piece of work a gift.
More precisely, the fulfillment of the promise
made to my father.
I want to create something that was uniquely my style.
I decided to work with puppets, starting from scratch.
When will you complete the project?
- In less than a year. - Another year?
Probably October.
- What about October? - The play...
- He won't finish his play this year.
- Oh... his play...
Do you know what play we are talking about?
With the puppets.
Remember?
The thing you wrote?
You read it.
I did....
Oh... right... let me see...
You see...
My father is unlikely to continue on the project.
My dad's health is problematic.
I'm worried.
The plane is one of our set pieces. It needs to be perfect.
This isn't just a plane, it's a symbol.
Papa is a pilot.
The audience is made to think that the plane
is a part of their memory.
When the plane appears, the son should break down completely.
So the audience will suddenly realize that the plane
embodies what they didn't want to talk about...
which is death.
At that time, I thought...
I read a few books, studied a few shows.
Suddenly I became the most productive director
at the Shanghai Chinese Opera Theater.
Seriously! You can ask my old colleagues.
I was able to direct 80 plus shows at the Shanghai Theater.
Me! I was able to direct more than 80 shows
over several decades. 80 shows.
Alright, but that was the old days.
I was not especially smart or talented.
I was like the commander in the Revolutionary Army
fighting for our platoon on the front lines.
If you tried to surrender, I could execute you on the spot!
Here you go again!
Why not!!!
Dad.
We come in first.
Dad.
-My dear son. -How are you doing?
I'm fine, fine. How about you guys?
We are good.
Good. That makes me happy.
We really like your girlfriend.
Very good... very good...
The last time you called, you said we can
check out the retirement home this month.
But seems like you are really busy.
This is what I am thinking:
I don't really want you guys to move to a nursing home.
Why don't we buy a house, and we can live together.
I have a great partner now.
I can go back to living a normal life.
I used to have an unstable life as an artist.
I want to buy the house.
But I need some time.
When my shows start generating income.
OK?
In other families, everyone shares the burden.
- But I am the only one here. - Don't cry, Mom.
This is too hard.
I can't do this anymore. I can't handle it.
Mom, don't cry. I understand.
Hao! Come here! Meeting.
Emergency.
We have a huge issue.
They just found out lots of lights can't be used.
As long as we get more money for our troupe,
we'll be able to keep performing together.
The problem is, I haven't seen any more money.
What will happen if it doesn't get better soon?
Would it mean we're finished?
If nothing else happens,
it would mean we dissolve the team.
I have two choices.
First, I could stop working, spend a year with my father,
be a great son.
The other choice is to do this project.
Not only to please my father, but also to bring
something beautiful to the world.
But this world, it doesn't deserve beauty.
Can we mark the time? Ten past eleven.
Oh, let me see.
Eleven o'clock, eleven ten....
Can you tell me the name of this hospital?
- I've come to this hosptial for half of my life.
- What's it called?
Just think.
What day of the week is today?
What day is it?
I no longer pay attention to it after retiring.
What year is it, this year?
I had a great memory before, but now....
I was a director before. I ran the opera theater.
I did this for decades.
I used to direct the whole company to create a show.
Back then, my brain was sharp. But now...
That was my job. And now I am...
I used to be...
Don't talk about the past.
When actors forgot their lines, I could recite them.
But now I'm like this!
Nothing I can do.
No matter how much I want to fix it.
No matter how frustrated....
The machine is broken. It's gone.
What can I do?
The airplane....
No airplane, Papa.
The airplane....
The airplane is not coming, I have told you many times.
It will absolutely not come.
I've asked Maleonn to take care of some old books
and news clippings.
Also my old writings. Drafts. I want him to burn it.
Dear friends,
We've moved into Cherish Retirement Home.
Starting a new chapter in the journey of life.
No need to worry. Please come visit us.
Looking forward to spending time with our old friends
in the sunset years of our lives.
Warm up time!
Dear friends and guests,
This play will include puppet dialect.
If you don't understand the dialogue, please don't panic.
Thank you!
Dear Child,
I've always thought that the important things in life
...even if they are extinguished,
can be lit again with my passion.
But time is too powerful.
More powerful than all the passion you possess.
You can't undo what it has done.
With all of this, have I been too naive?
- Go about your business. - I'll walk you out.
I'm sure you're busy. Don't mind me.
It's very good, my son.
I am digesting it.
Get your phones ready!
With this, I show my commitment to Tianyi.
What am I supposed to do now?
Just say yes!
OK, yes!
To my Tianyi, we will always be together.
If they are invited to perform internationally,
they should keep going.
No need to give up.
It's rare to get this far.
They are done?
I don't think they can keep going.
You need money to do theater.
Who's gonna let you do this without money?
Actors can't work for free either.
Did you see his show?
Yes, and you too.
I saw it too?
How come I don't remember?
"Papa's Time Machine?"
Am I that confused?
Can you tell me some behind the scenes stuff?
Let me tell you.
He made a play, and the story is...
about a son
whose father has become forgetful.
So he built a time machine.
to travel through time and retrieve his father's memory.
That's the story.
And he wants to dedicate it to you.
Thank you, dear family and friends, for coming to
Baby Deng-Deng's 100-day celebration!
We're really grateful!
Oh... she's gonna cry!
Deng-Deng, it's OK.
This is her father?
Yes, this is my daughter.
Didn't you know?
-Your son is a father! -Call me grandpa!
Let's take a picture.
Life really is a circle, isn't it?
I started this project because my father is aging
and losing his memory.
A year after I finished the project, my baby was born.
Definitely the circle of life.
When I showed my child to my father, my father asks,
"Who's this?" I tell him, "It's your granddaughter!"
Wow! He's so excited!
After a while, I come to my dad with the baby again.
"Who is this?" "It's your granddaughter."
I've already... I no longer fret about this.
At first, it pained me when I had to tell him a third time.
Even if I didn't show it, it was breaking my heart.
Because my father is totally confused.
But now... I already... I feel very...
I feel fine telling him over and over again,
"This is your granddaughter."
Ten minutes later, I can say, "Look at this child!"
"Who is this?" "It's your granddaughter."
Wow! He is so thrilled and kisses her.
So we take the baby away, and come back ten minutes later.
"Who is this?" "It's your granddaughter."
Again and again, I have the joy of telling my father,
"This is your granddaughter."
Dear Child,
How should I introduce you to this beautiful world?
It’s living.
It’s dying.
It’s joy
followed by pain.
We grow strong.
We grow old.
We depart.
Then we return.
Before you were born, I wrote down these stories
about the people who love you.
Also, our time machine.