MEDITATION PARK

Canada, 2017, 94 minutes, Colour.
Pei- Pei Cheng, Tzi Ma, Sandra Oh,, Don McKellar?, Zak Santiago, Jimmy Chen, Lillian Lim, Alannah Ong, Sharmaine Yeoh, Liane Balaban.
Directed by Mina Shum.

This is a rather small independent Canadian film. However, its themes are interesting, demanding of attention.

It is a story of migrants from China to Canada, a focus on the husband of the family, a maths teacher who found menial jobs in Canada, supported his family, but retained his patriarchal attitude towards his wife, her being a house maker and mother, not learning English. He is alienated from his son and his having an affair at the age of 65.

This is the story of his wife, her being the victim of her husband yet loving him, suspicious about his behaviour, following him, discovering the truth, seeing the woman, eventually confronting her – with the woman shamed and apologising.

Sandra Oh appears as their daughter, a strong woman, married with children, trying to break through to her father and urge her mother to go to the wedding of the son who has been alienated for 10 years.

The mother has a range of older Chinese women friends, going to a gym, going to a park – and even running a business confronting drivers with fees for local parking. Here they encounter Gabriel, Don McKellar?, his wife dying – and whom they befriend, much to the disgust of the patriarchal husband.

The film does not have a completely happy ending, rather showing the unmasking of the father, the happiness of the daughter with her family, the mother breaking free, on the ferry going to the wedding – and the close-up of her, leaving the audience to imagine what will happen.

The title is arresting but there is no reference to it throughout the film, although there are some parks where the women do their exercises and where the wife confronts the mistress.

1. The title? Not mentioned in the screenplay? The parks and what happened in the parks, especially for Maria and meeting the lover? The women and Gabriel and their exercises?

2. Canada, the city, homes, business, the parks and streets, outings? The musical score?

3. The opening, the family celebration, capping and his 65th birthday, the celebration, Maria and her hosting, Ava and her husband and children? Bing’s birthday wish?

4. The couple, their long marriage, coming to Canada? Bing and his jobs, former maths teacher, working for his family? Love for his daughter? The clash with their son, no communication for 10 years? His relationship with his wife? Patriarchal and dominant? His work, absences from home, his liaison with the young woman, the plan to go to Japan? Distance from his wife yet loving her? Late nights and absences? The effect on him?

5. The film’s focus on Maria, her age, dominated by her husband, in Canada, still learning English? Suspicions about her husband? The Dragnet television program? The private eye? The decision to follow her husband? Learning to ride the bike? Watching him, his excuses and explanations? The woman, seeing her in the park, following her? Going to speak to her, the reaction of the woman? The later meeting, the woman and her story, desperate for marriage, the liaison, her apology, being ashamed?

6. Maria and her relationship with her daughter, the daughter and her marriage, love for the children, some tensions? Inviting her mother to the wedding? Her husband’s refusal?

7. The women, the parking and making money? Maria joining them? The encounter with Gabriel, his breaking into get the clients? The women confronting him? Talking with Maria? The story of his sick wife, his desperation, friendship with Maria, organising the party, enjoying the dancing? Bing and his refusal to talk to Gabriel, forbidding his wife to touch him, his sense of public shame? The women and their enjoyment, supportive Maria, the gym and the exercises?

8. Gabriel, the parking, his sick wife, the news of her death? The effect on him, Maria’s support? His joining the women in their exercises and activities? Finding support in his tragedy?

9. Ava, the visit to her father, his reminiscing about the past, the news of the wedding, his looking at the photos, Ava looking at him, confronting him? The reconciliation with her husband and Bing watching out the window?

10. Maria, confronting her husband? His forbidding her to go to the wedding? In the street, pyjamas, pursuing her? Her packing, leaving, defying him?

11. The end of the film, no pat resolution? Seeing Maria on the ferry, her sense of freedom?

12. A strong feminist film, especially for the status and freedom along to women?