Last Train Home Analysis

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The film I watched told the story of a rural migration family in Sichuan through the experience of railway spring transport and the family conflicts. Migrant workers are also called "farmers-turned-workers" in China. Those people were born in the rural areas in peasant origin family and most of them go to cities for works today. This film is not a drama but a documentary that reflects the real and tough life of most migrant workers and their families. As the title of the documentary "Last Train Home" shows, there are many scenes in Guangzhou train station. The Spring Festival is a traditional day for family reunions, and the tradition causes the transportation during Spring Festival as a typical Chinese phenomenon is known as the largest annual …show more content…

Zhang and Chen could only return home for the family reunion once a year at most. A number of migrant workers in urban China cannot get even a single ticket to go home, which means those people do not get a single chance to communicate with their family face to face in a whole year. The parents went to Guangzhou and left their one-year-old daughter behind because they believed that going to cities can make more money and earn their children a happier life. However, no matter in China or foreign countries, children need more care and company from their parents when they are little. Zhang Qin enjoyed more communication with other workers in the factory. Also, her parents came to visit her more than once while she was in Guangzhou. Although people can enjoy peaceful and comfortable life in the countryside, the choice between working for their family and living with their family was very tough for this family under the harsh realities. The parents were in the position of having to take care of an elderly parent along with two children. Finally, Zhang Changhua and Chen Suqin choose to work in cities for their next

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