Free Movie / Documentary Movie Review Sample

1. Last Train Home (2009)
2. Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion (2003)

Last Train Home

I was deeply touched by the documentary Last Train Home. It depicts the world's largest human migration, a phenomenon in Chinese culture which I find both beautiful and tragic at the same time. 130 million city workers travel back to their villages in order to spend New Year holidays with their families. It is sad as the process of getting home is filled with difficulties, such as inability to get the tickets, long and tiring trip in uncomfortable train, overcrowded with people and luggage. Still, on the other side, it is full of joy of reunion, let even for a short time, with the loved ones. The subjects of the movie, Zhuang family, are bright example of that. 16 years ago the parents left home and their little daughter to work in the factory, and now she chooses to follow the same way of life. The story goes much further than focusing on unemployment or poverty, and touches upon such social issues as relationship between children and parents, unfulfilled hopes and aspirations and finding one’s own way by young adults. I think this movie is amazing as it is global and very personal at the same time. It tells a story of a huge social class showed through the life of one small family.

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion

A tragedy of the most peaceful and freedom-loving nation that fell a victim of unreasonable hostility and cruelty cannot leave anyone indifferent. Most people of the civilized world are already acquainted with the sad story of Tibet, but the documentary Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion tells it in a very special way. It makes you want to action, to do something. It makes you understand that we are not allowed to forget what have happened. Apart from providing the historical and political context, the movie uses personal stories and interviews, as well as archive images, to depict the China-Tibеt struggle. I cannot think of anything that can justify the actions of Chinese authorities in this case. At the same time, I admire Tibetan people who, after all what they went through, were able to save love, kindness and faith in bright future in their hearts.