The Movie

The Soong Sisters

Reading the book and watching it as a movie evokes different emotions.

Today, after an audition in school, I switched on the box and there is was, the famous movie. I always believed when a work is a master piece, it stays good forever. Whether you watch it once, twice or at different stages of your life; it never fails to produce the same good effects. That's what I told the teachers in school, when you have a method that is good after many replications; it means it is good forever; proven effective and precise.
So, I watched the movie towards the second half and still it was enough for me to reflect. The children in class will tell you how reflective I can be at times; it must be my age. I will interpret situations from many view points; I hope they are not confused.
In the reflection today, I recall the mother's love for the sisters. At a tender age, the sisters were sent away by the father to learn English and life in a foreign land; away from their motherland. So, the mother had to watch with tears in her eyes as the father sang "Home on the range" while the girls were shipped away. That is so heart-wrenching even in the name of education. So, the father taught them to be independent, willful adults from young. They grew up exactly that way; creating waves and history.
In the course of adulthood and the culmination of their stand for principles and meaning in life, the sisters married great men . Men who could handle them and the sisters in turn proved to be partners of real stuff; able to withstand real challenges. The sisters especially the younger two got into disagreements and turned against each other. Despite all the differences, blood is indeed thicker than water as they got together on their mother's death bed and played the final tune at their mother's request. The mother died with music in her ears.

I must say the mother must have gone through much pain to see the sisters growing apart; the memories of their younger days must have been playing hard and long. which mother can take this? But she would have been proud to know that the sisters finally protected and kept each other from harm; what a delight to me. Sisters are meant to look after each other; not fight ?

Then there was this scene when the second sister Ching Ling had to leave her and the desperate moment when the mother realised that education and will power have churned her daughter into someone she can no longer plead to and instruct. She could only abide by her decision and not question. Doesn't this seem familiar? The mother gave the daughter an umbrella to symbolically show that the journey for the younger one is long and arduous. Protection should be on her side.
The mother had many years to herself, as the father Charlie, left her many years before. It must have been lonely and to see her girls making decisions that are tough especially when the third girl decided to marry the great army man. 3 things the army man was told to do:
1. to love May Ling all his life fervently
2. to divorce the present wife
3. to read the Bible
Despite and in spite of everything, religion came into play. Later, we watched as he tried to understand the Book. He even made a vow to honour God as he prayed for divine intervention when his plane had trouble landing in Nanking after his escape from Xian. So, the mother's influence and insistence was felt.

Today, I only want to talk about the mother as my heart went out to her. Her patience in seeing the reconciliation of the sisters was evident and her prayers answered. She is a great mum to have been the mother of 3 great women who created history and impact.

Mrs. Charlie Soong.

Watch the movie on U tube.

I will be watching again and maybe tell you different stories.