Ocean Heaven (2010) User Reviews (19)

Jet Li's first non-action movie trades physical power for an emotionally powerful journey of a father's tireless love for his autistic son

[moviexclusive · 7/10 · 30 July 2010]

While this has been billed as Jet Li's detour from his martial arts filmography, "Ocean Heaven" should really be known for more than that. This is an intimate and deeply moving portrait of a terminally ill father's (Jet Li's Wang Xuechang) attempt to teach his autistic son the necessary life skills to survive on his own before he passes away. It is also a poignant tribute to the infinite love that parents have for their children and their unending desire to take care and look after them to their best abilities, no matter the struggle, no matter the effort.

Beginning on a somewhat ominous note, Wang is first seen with his son, Da Fu (Wen Zhang), out at sea with the intention of drowning them both using a large weight tied to their legs. He doesn't succeed- his son the excellent swimmer unties them both and saves them from certain death. The deed may seem appalling but his motive is in fact humane- a single father since his wife's death 14 years ago, Wang thinks it may be better off for Da Fu to join him in death than for him suffer on his own when Wang dies.

After the failed suicide attempt, Wang takes it as a sign that Da Fu is meant to live and so sets out to train Da Fu to be as independent as he can be, while looking for an institutional home willing to accept persons with autism. Both these missions turn out equally moving, for they bring to light certain truths that we are either ignorant of or choose to ignore. Though almost at the age of 21, Da Fu knows not simple tasks like taking off his clothes, boiling an egg or riding a bus that younger kids without disabilities would probably have mastered effortlessly.

Watching Wang patiently teach Da Fu the steps of these daily tasks is in itself a testament to the perseverance and love that parents of children with special needs have for their kids, a love so pure and boundless it deserves to be celebrated. Just as you will be led to feel vicariously the patience and determination of these parents like Wang, you'll also experience an indescribable joy when Da Fu finally picks up these skills- think of these tasks like mini-Everests, and the completion of any one of them equivalent to the sweet triumph of conquering the summit.

On the other hand, Wang's search for an institutional home for his son highlights a societal gap that deserves attention. As Wang sums up aptly, there is often support for the young and the old in special schools and aged homes respectively, but little services offered for adults with special needs between these ages. The responsibility falls on the shoulders of their parents to look after them, and it is a real concern when these parents ask who is to help them take care of their children when they are too old or frail to do so. Indeed, local viewers may draw a parallel with a recent article in the Straits Times that also similarly highlighted a gap in our special-needs welfare system in catering to adults with autism.

Unlike lesser directors who would have tried explaining the workings of Da Fu's mind to their audiences, writer/director Xue Xiaolu instead wisely uses his affinity for the world underwater- swimming with the turtles and dolphins- as a motif of his state of mind, different and yet beautiful in its own way. These scenes of Da Fu's graceful diving in the aquarium, where both he and Wang works, are captured in a ravishingly lush blue palette by Christopher Doyle's cinematography, set evocatively against Joe Hisaishi's score and Yee Chung Man's production design.

Perhaps the only missed opportunity here is Xue's subplot involving Kwai Lun-Mei's circus clown turned friend to Da Fu. Not enough time is spent delineating the friendship that develops between the two and the result lacks credibility, especially since Kwai's character seems too ready to accept Da Fu's quirks and idiosyncrasies. Nevertheless, the film's focus is really on the father-son duo of Wang and Da Fu- and in this regard, succeeds tremendously thanks in no small part to Jet Li and Zhang Wen's sublime yet powerfully convincing performances.

Yes, you should know that even without his fists or kicks, Jet Li still proves to be a magnetic actor with his unassuming portrayal of an ordinary man looking out for his son while looking death in the eye. But really, this film is more important and more significant than just being Jet Li's first non-action role- it is an extremely moving story of a father's tireless love for his son, no matter the odds, no matter the challenge. Especially to the parents of children with special needs who have given themselves continuously to the care of their kids, this is a tribute to the depth of your love, the depth of your heart.

A Nutshell Review: Ocean Heaven

[DICK STEEL · 8/10 · 14 August 2010]

The marketing for this film went into overdrive with its touting of this being action star Jet Li's first dramatic role. Unless you count his appearance in a non combative role in Founding of a Republic and the various attempts to balance his action status with more dramatic acting chops such as Danny the Dog, then Ocean Heaven will be that maiden effort. Written and directed by Xue Xiao Lu, this modest effort is by no means small in ambition, having the likes of Jay Chou and Kwai Lun Mei lend their vocals to separate title tracks (with Kwai also starring in the film), as well as being lensed by the renowned Christopher Doyle.

Jet Li stars as Wang, a middle aged technician at Qingdao's Ocean World who discovers that his liver cancer is at its 4th stage, and a medical death sentence has been passed, giving him 3 to 4 months to live. His prime concern will be that of his autistic son Da Fu (Wen Zhang) because this means as the main caregiver, he has to find an able, trusted replacement, most likely an institution, but as any single parent can attest to, this effort is none too easy in the absence of direct family support, with places like mental institutions being totally out of place, and Da Fu being too old for an orphanage, and too young for a senior citizens' home. The film opens with a father-son suicide, only for the latter to inexplicably save the both of them, and bringing them back to the drawing board.

It's interesting to note (at least for me) that the Chinese language term for Autism is "Gu Du Zheng" which directly translates to a condition of loneliness. Through the film, Wang cannot shake off the fact that this figuratively applies to him, being alone in his care of his teenage son for many years since the passing of his wife, and not wanting to impose his troubles and issues on others, such as his neighbour and provision shop owner (Zhu Yuanyuan) who undoubtedly has affections for Wang himself. Wang is the classical stoic Chinese man who bottles up his troubles, seeking instead to source for solutions himself than to rely on the graces of others, although help does come from an understanding boss, as well as Da Fu's school principal.

Xue spends considerable screen time in outlining the father-son relationship, albeit that it's not quite the norm because communication almost always seem like a one way street. Wang, with his limited, time, wants to train Da Fu in performing simple tasks in looking after himself, from cooking to taking the public bus, and through many of these scenes, Xue has allowed for an awareness of autism to ring through without resorting to over-reliance on melodrama to do so. Tasks are to be explained with extreme patience, and knowledge imparted through constant rote learning and praising. It's not easy, but as any parent, this unconditional love is something that's quite innate.

Both Jet Li and Wen Zhang share great chemistry, which helps make their individual performance credible. You'll for once feel as exasperated as Li since this time he cannot kung-fu kick his way out of challenges and troubles, and have to rely on perseverance and love to educate his son. You'll feel his pain, and share his pessimism and slim hopes that he'll be able to impart, delegate and leave behind enough for his son not only material wealth, but emotional stability as well, which comes in the form of a sea turtle motif, known for its longevity, Wen Zhang too has this child like quality in his portrayal of autism which endears, and is able to bring out the confusion, fear and anger when he is not understood by others.

The only peculiar performance here will be that of Kwai Lun Mei's Ling Ling, whose role is that of a clown who juggles. I can't place her role anywhere other than to solely beef up the star attraction to this film, because her role and the subplots involving her character all seem a little out of place and useless, and can be done without. Perhaps it is just there to balance that sense of bleak from Wang's point of view, since scenes between Ling Ling and Da Fu mostly hinges on play and friendship, providing that lift to the audience, unbeknownst to Wang, that his son is capable of making new, genuine friends, and that he need not worry that Da Fu will eventually be alone in this world after Wang's own passing.

I won't say this is a tearjerker, but there will be those who will inevitably be touched by Father's love, going by the amount of sniffles in the cinema hall. I suppose Jet Li's foray into a purely dramatic role is quite successful, although personally I can't wait to see him kick serious ass in The Expendables with an ensemble cast of action heroes where he belongs. But of course one can't go on forever in such a role. Maybe he too can adopt the Jackie Chan direction (I'm pretty sure they would have exchanged notes during their pairing in The Forbidden Kingdom) where a film role balancing drama and action is possible ala Chan's Little Big Soldier, or even following what Clint Eastwood is doing in going behind the camera to tell heartfelt stories.

Is this really autism?

[duncanj-386-766468 · 8/10 · 2 June 2012]

Ocean Heaven is an intriguing movie for several reasons: 1. It portrays a young man with autism, who also shows emotion; 2. We see a sanitized view of modern day China and how disability is supposedly supported by average citizens and the state; and, 3. A terminally ill father struggles with finding support for his son.

Each theme is a separate review I'm sure. I really did not want to like this film, and as a previous reviewer suggested, I was also prepared to turn my nose up after the opening dramatic scene. But I kept going with it. I'm glad I did.

The actor who portrays the young man with autism is actually quite believable. He gets the gestures just right, the mannerisms, the vocalizations,and the expressions. Having known people with autism--all across the spectrum--for thirty years now, I was amazed at how nuanced this performance was, and it did not fall into the mistakes of stereotypical portrayals, such as Rain Man. It worked. His emotional side, based on fear of the unknown, was handled well, as was his father's reactions to him.

The setting for the movie was another aspect of the film that captivated my interest. It is no secret that having a disability in Chinese society is complicated; there is stigma attached to the family, not much support in terms of formal schooling, and even less for social services in the community. It is not discussed, and rarely revealed. Most newborns with obvious disabilities (such as Down syndrome) are routinely abandoned in the hospital and left to die. So why this sudden sympathetic portrayal? Did China undergo a transformation after hosting the Special Olympics in 2008? They did, after all, implement a national policy of "be nice to people with disabilities" in preparation for those games.

The natural supports for Dafu (son) were all around him, if his father would only look. The character of "auntie Chai" totally got Dafu. She could have enlisted his work ethic in her store. He already had a "job" swimming with the fish and sea mammals at the aquarium. We saw scenes of him being one with the water and marine life. And so on. But the film takes us on a trip to see Chinese institutional care, segregated schools, and missed opportunities for true inclusion in his community.

There are side stories that don't advance the film, such as the circus troupe and the film star clown who juggles. The metaphor of the circus outsiders (some would also equate them to freak shows) accepting Dafu is an old cliché that wasn't necessary. Another side story that is not developed deals with his deceased Mother, who apparently could not handle the truth of her son's autism. There are veiled references to her untimely death as a suicide.

Now the story has legs. The real issue that is presented is that it is understandable, and even acceptable for a parent to intentionally kill their child with a disability. Pity the poor parents, who have to endure the shame and burden of a child with a disability. This is how most people really feel. In fact, there is societal support for parents who murder their child out of pity. In Canada there is a famous case of Robert Latimer, a father from Saskatchewan, who murdered his daughter Tracy because she had cerebral palsy. Most Canadians thought Mr. Latimer a sympathetic figure, not deserving jail time for his crime. There are numerous instances of children and adults with autism who end up dead at the hands of a caregiver or family member. Check out the website notdeadyet for further reporting on this subject.

So the opening scene, where Dafu chooses life for himself and his father is quite dramatic, and likely the best evidence of Dafu's intellect, emotion, and will to live. It is also a tribute to all those other people with disabilities who do not get to choose how their life unfolds, whether in China, or anywhere else.

ocean's heaven

[theultimatepololo · 10/10 · 22 March 2011]

I always been a great fan of jet Li and the martial arts cinema and this film just prove something that I knew for long time, how great actors some martial artists can be. but beyond the amazing performance of jet Li, this movie is a beautiful story about a terminally ill father and his autistic son, and how the real love is beyond everything even death...the performance of the rest of the cast is perfect,specially wen zhang, who plays jet Li's son, his performance is brilliant, this guy is going to be a star.All the cast shines on this beautiful tale.this is the kind of stories that make cinema so great and in my opinion this film is much better movie than any of the nominees to best picture movie of this year...

The story of a dying father making the impossible to give his autistic son independence before cancer take his life

[andres-148 · 10/10 · 7 June 2011]

I'm a father of an autistic child, and I Can see my self and my son in this movie all the time. This is a great history that don't use stereotypes as genius children that can break complex codes or make complex mathematics operations in seconds for impress the audience, it is the story of a dying father making the impossible to give his son the possibility of independence before the cancer take his life. The performance of Jet Li as the father is remarkable, he lost him self in the character, and show us that he is an incredible actor. Wen Zhang makes an incredible job as the autistic son of Li, in some moments he makes my believe that he really was autistic. An incredible peace of art that must be running to an Oscar.

A touching film

[Gordon-11 · 18 October 2013]

When "Ocean Heaven" was released, it got great critical acclaim and positive word of mouth. I finally got to watch it, and it surpassed my expectations. There are a few films depicting autistic characters that I have watched, and this film has the most accurate and consistently convincing portrayal. Either the guy playing Dafu is really autistic, or he is a really good actor. The story tells how the father prepares his autistic soon to live independently. The father's unconditional love for his child, his unlimited patience and unrelenting care is very respectable. Anyone will be touched by him. The film also depicts the lives of ordinary citizens, with real problems, adding realism to the touching plot. I hope this great film will find a wider audience, because it deserves to be seen and appreciated.

Surprising drama which shows potential for Chinese cinema

[redrummy · 7/10 · 24 November 2010]

CONTAINS MINOR PLOT OUTLINE

In recent years, Chinese cinema has fallen somewhat behind Japanese and korean cinema in showcasing the best Asian movies. While it won't be challenging for international awards, everyone involved leaves with their reputations raised. So can a Chinese film without a hint of violence, crime or political overtones can be any good? i'd like to think so, if jet li is a stereotype for all those genres, he can safely say he is capable of much more. Many eyes will be focused on Jet Li who is an out and out action star and any foray into western cinema only reifys his action star status. Like Chan before him, he's no longer 20 or even 30, and will be looking for dramatic roles before eventually being put behind a desk in some cop drama. Li excels as the caring father who's autistic son is soon to be left alone in the world as he discovers he has terminal cancer. However the real star is his son, i'm not sure who plays him since the IMDb page is painfully sparse on information. Either way Da Fu is played clinically and with all the mannerisms you'd expect but it all seems natural, he brings life into the character and there's never so much a hint of over acting or artificiality. The supporting cast do what they can in their limited roles and often breathe sympathy towards Da Fu, if only to bring peace of mind to those who wonder if he will actually make it himself. The journey itself moves along at it's own pace with segments of Da Fu being taught to survive on his own, while some areas do seem episodic as his progress is lumped into one section, accompanied by aspirational montage music which is really familiar to spirited away with haunting piano keys and melodic violins. As well as the Ling Ling love interest which removes Li from the equation somewhat. I'd like to think the love interest was in Da Fu's imagination or that of his father's to show people can really past his autism. One scene does seem out of place, and spoilers if you don't wan't to know, so skip the next paragraph.

The scene in question is the scene where Li explodes at Da Fu for not being able to mop but even worse is when he calls him stupid. Up until that point he was caring and tolerant and him snapping seems out of place and against character, while he has good reason to, you would not expect this father to snap. His death was also handled quite off screen and you never really see how Da Fu really reacts, if he ever does.

That said, the film brings out great acting and a film which may love itself in metaphor towards the end. However, the ending does bring justice to the character we've seen develop and even if he is essentially the same person the world around has changed.

A simple yet effective tale of determination

[SamuraiNixon · 9/10 · 12 March 2012]

This has been touted as Jet Li's first starring non-action drama. While that is interesting it is probably the wrong approach to think of Li's past roles before watching this movie. This is a simple bittersweet realist drama that is a moving cinematic experience because of the earnest performances. Jet Li's minimalist characterization is the right approach for his character Wang Xuechang and quite different than his action persona. The director describes Li's character as "like a man who has become a mother." He is described by others in the film as a good man, which he is. He is doing the best he can with this situation with dogged determination, not with brilliance or luck, but perseverance. Wang is a maintenance work for an aquarium and had lost his wife fourteen years ago. He also has complete responsibility of his son Dafu (Wen Zhang: also acts with Jet Li in the later The Sorcerer and the White Snake) who suffers from severe autism. Wang is also dying from liver cancer and is given around three months to live.

The film stars off inauspiciously. Wang takes his son out to the ocean to drown him and himself. This does not work because the son had secretly untied the rope and the son has one special gift in his mostly closed world -- he is an excellent swimmer. So Wang goes back to his home and work determined to leave his son prepared for his passing while his pains get worse by the day. At first he tries to find a place where he can leave his son. But either the institutions are for kids or seniors which the 22-year old does not qualify. While this proves difficult he also spends time going over simple behaviors like riding the bus, cooking eggs, and spending money so he can have some semblance of a normal life.

While Dafu spends his days swimming in the aquarium tanks he befriends a traveling circus clown and juggler Ling Ling (Kwai Lun-mei: also acts with Jet Li in the later Flying Swords of Dragon Gate; she also sings a song for the film) who also gives Dafu someone else to trust. But given that her life is nomadic and that Wang's life is slowly ebbing away you are left to wonder what is going to happen to Dafu.

This is Xue Xiao-lu's first directed film. Her only other screen credit is for the writing on Chen Kaige's Together. Xue has stated she has worked on this project fourteen years, referring to her volunteer work with autistic children, and by the time the screenplay got to be read by Jet Li it was in its seventh draft. What is impressive is the crew that was put together for this film. For the cinematography you have Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Hero), for the music you have Joe Hisaishi (Kikujiro, Spirited Away) and production design by Yee Chung-man (Tokyo Raiders, Shaolin). Having this triumvirate is quite unbelievable considering the modest budget. Their collaboration helps the film immensely in sound and image.

This is a beautiful looking film. The cinematography and production design is dominated by blue hues throughout as a constant allegory to the water in their lives. The acting from Li and especially Wen is quite good. There relationship is quite touching as is the relationship between Dafu and Ling Ling. That one is underplayed, but I think that is the right decision for this film. So much of the success of this film depends on how Wen portrays his character's interactions with these two. There are no magical solutions to the familial issues, just a lot of hard work from caring people. There are no real antagonists in this story. Some might consider this a negative, but the movie does not need it. I am glad, because Dafu's life is difficult enough and the movie is emotional enough. I had to watch it in two sittings because the first half depressed me quite a bit. I do recommend this movie and hope those who are on the fence about watching this to give it a watch. I think it is quite a good film.

There are certainly some parallels between this film and Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung's Heart of Dragon. Both films were dramatic roles dealing with a caretaker having no choice in dealing with a mentally challenged relative and both were popular action stars getting a chance to expand their acting repertoire. This film also reminds me of Zhang Yang's underrated Shower in which the relationship between Er Ming and Liu parallels that of the two main characters here. There is also a water motif present in both films though I think the allegory is stronger in Shower and more matter-of-fact here. I mention these films because both are interesting and different approaches to similar matter. Shower is also one of my favorite films.

I saw this on the R1 Well Go DVD release. But there is also a R1 BD/DVD combo available from Well Go which should have the same extras. For the extras there is an 11 minute "Making of" extra which has interviews from Jet Li, Kwai Lun-mei, Wen Zhang and Xue Xiao-lu and inserted footage from the movie. It has some good information, but is ultimately too short. There is a trailer and a teaser for the movie as well. The start-up trailers (not accessible by menu) are 1911, The Stool Pigeon and The Man From Nowhere. I found a mistake in the description on the back cover which uses names for the two characters (Sam and David) that appear nowhere in the film and there is no English dub so I am not sure where they came from. The two dubs for this are a Mandarin 5.1 Dolby and a Mandarin Dolby Stereo. There is also an R3 Edko release of this film that came out in 2010.

When brotherly affection transcends physical limitations...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 3 May 2017]

I had no idea that Jet Li had starred in a movie such as this, and when I found out, I must admit that I was intrigued and wondered how he would fare in a movie such as this. So it was with some expectations that I sat down to watch "Ocean Heaven" (aka "Hai yang tian tang").

First and foremost I must say that writer and director Xiaolu Xue managed to accomplish something quite unique and beautiful with "Ocean Heaven". It was a rather beautiful story that was both entertaining and also had somewhat of a deeper message other than just being for entertainment purposes.

Then I must also move on to say that Jet Li was surprisingly good in a dramatic role, albeit it was a bit odd to see him in a mature and serious role such as the one he portrayed in "Ocean Heaven". But he managed that with flying colors. However, it was actually Zhang Wen who stole the spotlight with his performance.

This is the story of an Wang Xingchang (played by Jet Li) who is taking care of his disabled brother Dafu (played by Zhang Wen). Dafu is a man with autism and needs his brother to assist him in many things. But when given some bad news, Wang Xingchang must ensure that Dafu learn enough to be self-sufficient.

While the story in "Ocean Heaven" is a touching and profound, then it just lacked something to become a real tearjerker. But it is definitely a beautiful movie with equally beautiful performances by the cast.

If you enjoy dramas and if you enjoy Asian cinema, then you should by all means give "Ocean Heaven" a chance. I enjoyed it, and I was genuinely surprised with Jet Li's performance in a slowed down movie such as this in comparison to the adrenaline-fueled and fast paced action martial arts movies that he usually stars in.

Jet Li proves his dramatic skills in a heartfelt story of fatherly love

[teemeah-wikiposta · 10/10 · 24 August 2010]

I must admit, I am a huge Jet Li fan. I have seen most of his movies and am on the mission to get hold of those I haven't seen. So I was eager to watch the movie that had no kickass Jet Li in it.

Though I have seen he Warlords, which already gives you a sense of what he is capable of as an actor (he won a Hong Kong Movie Award with that performance), it cannot rehearse you for Ocean Heaven.

Amidst the excellent cinematographic work, the story is told in a very slow pace, and sometimes it all feels repetitive. However, it is needed for the audience to understand the depth of love Wang has for his son and the hardships he has to go through. Jet Li emerges as a good actor, and you forget he is the best Chinese martial artist ever filmed. He is credible in the role of the dying, shy, introverted yet strong man, who is willing to sacrifice everything for his only son. He is even willing to make fun of himself when he dresses up as a giant turtle to make Dafu, his son see he will always stay with him, in the form of Dafu's beloved sea creatures.

I do admit, I did cry in the end of the movie, and I'm not ashamed of it. This is a moving story, and tells how misunderstood people with autism are and what such families in China have to go through because the government does not provide help with such children.

A surprising Jet Li in a moving drama - anyone who only considers Jet Li as a typecast action hero, should watch this movie.

Sad, poignant, different for Jet Li

[bernardaquina · 7/10 · 24 October 2021]

Don't expect any of Jet Li's marvelous martial antics in this one, but if you like to see how your favorite type cast actors handle real life, down to earth drama roles, Ocean Heaven will meet that need while sufficiently tugging at your heart strings. There is a nice, if slow moving story here, the reason I only gave it 7 stars, of a single, impoverished widower and his autistic son and how they coped with everyday life. But I loved it for its a tear inducing plot and transitions that will grab you and bring forth tears and smiles of compassion. For that, it is a great movie to enjoy with your girlfriend or wife. In my reviews I don't like to reveal much of the plot or direction of the movies I view, but I do recommend this well-written and directed portrayal to any parent, especially those dedicated to raising a child with special needs. There was an interesting thought spoken by Li when he described his son as being born in the wrong body, saying, he should have been a fish not a human. Having said that, I did find myself waiting for Li to break out some romantic moves on his sweet, caring landlord, but alas, maybe in another romantic drama.

ordinary heroes

[roedyg · 8/10 · 12 May 2012]

I read the plot outline on the box. A man with an autistic son, who is terminally ill tries to figure out a way to ensure his son will be cared for after he dies. That is quite a punch right there.

The movie really grabbed me emotionally with repeated small acts of kindness, not just from the father but from everyone in his community. You will need a box of Kleenex. The father has totally dedicated his life to his son's well being. His gentle kindness transforms everyone around him and brings out the best in them.

The movie completely worked until the very end when Dad tried to create a simple religious myth to explain his impending death to his son. It was bathos. It spoiled the end of the movie for me. The movie suddenly went Disney on me. It was just too goofy. I suppose I could reframe it as insane last ditch desperation.

It has an intense bitter-sweet ending.

Unusual drama film starring Jet Li

[jordondave-28085 · 7/10 · 9 May 2023]

(2010) Ocean Haven/ Ocean heaven/ Ocean Paradise (In Mandarin with English subtitles) DRAMA

As a fan of Jet Lee or Jet Li's martial art movies, this is quite a transition for him, but at the same time I was never a fan of movies about people suffering from down syndrome or people with mental disorder films since they're the easiest thing to do if anyone were to become an actor as I always thought even before seeing Lars Von Trier's controversial film "The Idiots" saying that it involves more peculiar movements and less thinking dialogue. Besides "The Idiots", the only other films that demand recognition in terms of less dialogue acting roles are probably "The Miracle Worker" with Anne Bancroft and "My Left Foot" which their minds are intact but their bodies are not. The reason I say this is because everybody regardless who you're can act or verbally talk irresponsibly and carelessly once in awhile including me. Therefore, down syndrome or other mental disorder films can on some level or another can be an everyday occurrence and is not hard to do saying that anyone can do it- just be self absorbed, selfish and inconsiderate of others while allowing others to help you. Anyways, I had to see this movie because I like Jet Lee and stereotypical I did not know he can be in a drama film. The film is written and directed by Xue Xiao Lu, which may be a personal film based on actual experiences. At the beginning, Jet Lee as Wang Xingchang or as the characters in the movie call him Old Wang ties a rope to his son's leg along with his while sitting on a boat for it's very evident that his teenage son doesn't have any normal tendencies. Old Wang jumps into the water from his boat for the intention of killing himself as well as his only teenage son his name is Dafu. We assume at this point that it's one of those movies which the beginning is the end. But that is not the case at all for his son, Dafu saves him since he must be an excellent swimmer. The next scene has both of them coming into their apartment, and are not wet anymore but smell quite badly as acknowledged by his young female next door neighbor who's just stopping by to drop off some eats. And it was at this point he reveals to the audience that his son is autistic. That the reason he was attempting to kill himself by means of drowning along with his son was because he is dying of cancer for his son is unable to take care of himself and felt that it would be unfair to him if he couldn't get the proper care that he needs. Now because the setting takes place somewhere China, we get to witness some of the customs regarding how autistic people are treated in some areas. For instance, Old Wang is allowed to take his son to work which is maintaining the 'ocean resort' which includes janitorial and electrical, while his son is allowed to swim in the pool with the sea animals which is where he learned to become a great swimmer. This movie makes the possibility that although it's possible to take your child with you when you go to work, it's not possible to find the proper care he needs if that person happens to be the only parent who can look after him and that it'll be much harder if that specific parent is not around anymore. What I liked about this film is that it's not so much about the son as much as it's about whether or not one can find the proper care for him if anything were to happen to the parent which can be any parents dilemma. For it's generally harder to look after someone who is mentally disabled than it would be to look after a cat or a dog which owners don't have to worry too much about them all the time in comparison to a child who's suffering from mental disabilities. What prevented me to like this film even more is the expected cliché scenes of Old Wang training his autistic son to cook for himself and so forth... for it's different with each person and in my opinion didn't need it since the gov't can also provide some of the help too.

Picture Quality Became Blurry

[joey-flats · 20 February 2012]

My sister has a 7 year old son who suffers vaccine injury leaving him autistic. I bought the DVD already knowing of the burden for parents having one of their five kids who'll most likely never leave their nest. There were a lot of details that this film got right: the attention span, the distractions, the stimming, the frustration of sensory overload. It's very painful to see someone repeatedly smash their head into a wall because the impact is actually giving them relief from their thoughts and over stimulated brain.

As the film developed I found it emotionally crushing to see how the hearts of the characters themselves are all melted converts to a father's simple love in spite the inevitable conclusion of mortal separation. Everything of the film was superb except perhaps the blurry picture quality...no wait. I'm sorry, those were my tears that got in the way. The DVD played just fine.

Now I like Jet Li more than ever!

[raj9448947551 · 10/10 · 15 June 2014]

I wanted to watch a Jet Li's movie since it had been a very a long time .So downloaded "Ocean Heaven" thinking it could be a good action movie.

Just finished watching it. It came as a surprise that the movie has nothing related to martial arts. But it brought tears in my eyes ;it is such an emotional movie which portrayed a beautiful relationship between a great father and his autistic son. Now I like Jet Li more than ever. He played his role so perfect even in Drama genre!

Apart from him, all others have played their respective roles pretty well especially his son.You will not feel bored at any point in the movie.

Highly recommended for everyone!

10/10

A glimpse into my life

[kristopherreese · 9/10 · 6 April 2014]

There might be spoilers in here, but I don't think I will give much away.

When I read the description on the box, it caught my attention. I wasn't sure about it because the movie is in Mandarin and I would have to rely on subtitles. I don't believe I have ever heard autism mentioned in any other country and I was intrigued, so I purchased the movie.

I am the father of a 23 year old autistic girl. I have been around other autistic children and found the acting to be very believable. The storyline is heart wrenching. The writer had to have had some experience with an autistic family in some way, this movie made me see many things that are parallel to my life. I think all parents of disabled children worry about what will happen to the child when they are gone. I have to admit that I started crying a few times during this movie.

While this movie is based in China, it really is universal. I believe it conveyed the feelings and emotions of all parents of autistic children. If you want to get a glimpse of the life of a family with autism, this movie will give you a slight idea. There is so much more pain and heartbreak and frustration that is not a part of this movie, but it is still a small window into autistic life.

I wish I was able to contact the director and actors directly to thank them for this movie and express how emotional it was watching it.

I HIGHLY recommend this movie, it was very well done.

Love Ocean Heaven

[anntwin · 9/10 · 8 January 2022]

This is such a great movie. Jet Li does such a good job capturing the emotions of a parent who is determined to get his son with disabilities to the level of independence that's needed to maintain his son's quality of life. This movie is emotional, inspiring and loving.

A very emotionally charged family drama showing a father's tireless, selfless love for his autistic son. This film has strong Social significance.

[littledog1991 · 9 May 2013]

"Ocean Heaven" is about JetLi (Wang Xincheng), who plays the role of a forty-seven years terminally ill father, Wang works at the aquarium while struggle to look after his twenty-one years old son Dafu, who suffers autism from childhood. He live in his own world and impaired social interaction and communication, he cannot take care of himself in daily life. Dafu's mother killed in an accident when he was young, but believed she was suicides, because she could not bear to combat his son is autism. Wang single-handedly brought up Dafu and trying to teach him basic necessary life skills in order to survive on his own and take care for himself after he found out he is terminally ill and only has 3 to 4 months to live. As well as teaching him how to wear clothes, how to cook, how to ride the bus, he struggles to look for a home for his son before he passes away. Finally they found a newly opened institution with helps from the principal of the school for intellectual disabilities children that Dafu attended as a child.In order to let his son live comfortably, Wang made the layout of his son's room exactly the same as his usual one.

The film has an opening scene of Wang trying to kill himself and his son by tied themselves to a big rock and jumped into the ocean,because Wang do not know what to do with his son and do not want him to suffer on his own after Wang die. However, Dafu loves water, he is an expert swimmer, which saved their lives. Everyday, swimming at the aquarium that his father works for are the happiest time of his life, where he meet Lingling, Lingling plays the role of a clown who is part of a traveling circus that perform in the aquarium for a short period of time, they get well together as Lingling is a orphan, they become friends and Lingling has taught Dafu how to answer the phone in the aquarium when he hears it, because she know she will be leaving soon with her circus. Eventually, Wang passed away without regrets, Dafu also learned everything his father has taught him and works at the aquarium, at the end, Dafu lying on the back of the turtle, swim with peace of mind and happiness. Just like lying on his father's back.

A father who is terminally ill and single-handedly brought up his son. A son who suffers autism that cannot take care of himself in daily life, when we see such film like this, we cannot help but thought where is the Ocean that makes people happy and delightful? Where is the desirable to feel the happiness of heaven?

Ocean heaven is a movie that can touch something deep in people's heart. The director aims to raise public's concern on the struggling and desperate status of autistic people in the society in a very impressive way. The director has well knowledge with autism, which is one of the key elements to makes such amazing touched film. This film is a masterpiece of Xiaolu Xue,whose own personal experience from working as a volunteer at an autism school for ten years. This movie is about sincerity. It shows that in this day and age those filmmakers are willing to do something for society. It is trying to express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film. At the beginning of the movie, father jumps into the ocean with the son and tries to end their life in the heart of the ocean. This is a very impressive scene. The ocean is beautiful and peaceful, sky is blue, all of these lead people to think about the positive things of life. However, this father, attempted to kill themselves in the heart of the ocean. Xue has successfully sets a question mark in audience's mind. The trembling of Dafu's fingers was the major element used in the film, showing the characteristic of autism patients, the compulsive behavior of Dafu appears to follow rules and arranging objects in stacks or lines. Restricted behavior of Dafu preoccupation with a single toy, all of these,which makes the film more reality and touched.

Dafu's daily life is totally dependent on father due to his autism. When the father tries to find a shelter for Dafu after he knows he would die within few months, it is sad that there is no government organizations is able to help them, including hospital, insurance, welfare, disabled school. But fortunately, Dafu is taken by a group of people who are eager to help voluntary groups of people in society. This contrast reflects the problem and the instant need of improvement of china health care system. The thing that goes into the deepest of people's heart is the father's selfless love to Dafu. He accomplished an impossible task, which is to teach Dafu the necessary life skills to take out his daily activities, such as taking a bus, cooking, getting across the road and working at the aquarium. In order to prevent Dafu feel lonely, He dressed as a turtle and swim with his son, he told Dafu, he will become a turtle,he will always by his side.

This is a very emotionally charged family drama showing a father's tireless, selfless love for his autistic son. This film has strong Social significance.Director Xue has well knowledge with autism and shows that in this day and age those filmmakers are willing to do something for society. Xue has successfully raise public's concern on the struggling and desperate status of autistic people in the society in a very impressive way and express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film. Although,Wang and Dafu will never see each other again, but the eternal between them will always exist, because, Love, will always exist.Dafu will live happily in the heaven that his father created.

unrealistic, contrived, and unconvincing plot

[TheBigSick · 2 April 2023]

Ocean Heaven (2010) is a Chinese drama film directed by Xue Xiaolu and starring Jet Li. The film tells the story of a terminally ill father who tries to prepare his autistic son for life without him.

The film has been criticized for its unrealistic and contrived plot. Some critics have also found Jet Li's vocal and line delivery to be bad.

Despite these criticisms, Ocean Heaven is a moving and heartfelt film about the power of love between a father and son. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

The film's plot is certainly unrealistic. The father, Wang Xuechang, is a terminally ill man who has less than five months to live. He decides to fake his own death in order to teach his autistic son, Dafu, how to live on his own. He stages his own death in a way that makes it look like he has drowned. Dafu is devastated by his father's death, but he eventually comes to terms with it and learns how to live on his own.

The plot is contrived in several ways. For example, it is unlikely that a terminally ill man would be able to fake his own death so convincingly. It is also unlikely that an autistic child would be able to learn how to live on his own so quickly.

Despite the unrealistic and contrived plot, Ocean Heaven is a moving and heartfelt film. The performances by Jet Li and Kwai Lun Mei are excellent. Li brings a great deal of emotion to his role as the father.

The film is also well-directed by Xue Xiaolu. She creates a number of memorable scenes, such as the one in which Dafu is first introduced to the world of fish. The scene is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Ocean Heaven is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it. It is a moving and heartfelt film about the power of love between a father and son.