The Drummer

Hong Kong

Variation on an old story:  callow youth finds purpose and meaning through the discipline of an ancient folk practice...in this case ritual drumming.

Here the kid is the son of a HK gangster so part of the film is his struggle with his roots. There is also a love interest which seemed cliched and quite hokey. But the setting is lovely, the drumming outstanding and the drum group, living and playing on a remote mountaintop in idealized little huts in communal harmony was very appealing and carried the film.

So a mixed bag...but it successfully created a world where I’d like to have experienced in my own life.

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