Watch Everybody's Fine

Everybody's Fine (2016) is a heartwarming drama about a father, Guan Zhiguo (played by Zhang Guoli), who decides to embark on a journey to visit his four adult children after they all cancel their plans to come home for Chinese New Year. The film is a remake of the 2009 American-Italian film of the same name, but with a distinctly Chinese twist.

At the beginning of the movie, we see Guan Zhiguo getting excited about the upcoming Chinese New Year, preparing for his children's arrival and cooking up a storm in anticipation of the feast they will share. However, the excitement quickly turns to disappointment as one by one his children inform him that they will be unable to make it home for the holidays. Guan Zhiguo is crestfallen, but decides to take matters into his own hands by traveling to each of his children's cities to visit them and see how they are doing.

What follows is a touching and often poignant look at the relationships between Guan Zhiguo and each of his children. From his eldest daughter, a successful businesswoman in Beijing who seems to have it all but is actually unhappy and unfulfilled, to his youngest son, a struggling musician in Guangzhou who tries to put on a brave face but is clearly struggling to make ends meet, Guan Zhiguo discovers that his children are not exactly where he thought they would be in life.

Along the way, the film explores various themes such as family, duty, and sacrifice. Guan Zhiguo's journey is not just a physical one, but an emotional one as well. He learns about the secrets his children have been keeping from him, the sacrifices they have made for their careers and families, and the dreams they had to give up along the way. He also comes to understand the mistakes he made as a father and how his expectations may have contributed to his children's struggles.

One of the standout performances in Everybody's Fine comes from Yao Chen, who plays Guan Zhiguo's second daughter, a doctor working in rural China. Her storyline is particularly poignant as we see her struggle with the loneliness and isolation of her job, the sacrifices she has made for her career, and the guilt she feels for not being there for her father when he needs her most. The scenes between Guan Zhiguo and his daughter are some of the most emotional in the film, as we see them both grappling with feelings of regret and missed opportunities.

Ultimately, Everybody's Fine is a touching and heartfelt film about the complexities of family relationships and the importance of communication and understanding. It is also a tribute to the sacrifices and hard work of parents who want nothing but the best for their children. The film does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of Chinese New Year, of family coming together to celebrate and support one another, and of the deep-rooted cultural traditions that shape Chinese family life.

Overall, Everybody's Fine is a well-acted and well-directed film that explores universal themes with a distinctly Chinese flavor. It will appeal to anyone who has ever struggled with the expectations of their parents or who has grappled with the complexities of family relationships. It is a heartwarming reminder that, no matter where life takes us, there is always love and support to be found in family.

Everybody's Fine is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes.