Owl and the Sparrow

There are times when we simply stumble upon good films that has the capacity to make us stay the entire span without knowing what lies ahead but ended up with high sighs of appreciation and inspiration. See, inspiration can be found everywhere, even elsewhere. We just have to have the eyes capable to notice and a space in our heart to contain them. Consider this simple Vietnamese film Owl and the Sparrow. It might not be grand on its production. But what it lacks is filled up by the grandeur of its story, in plain simplicity.

 

It’s a story of Thuy, a 10-year old orphaned who worked in the factory of his uncle. His uncle thought of her as useless and has short temper for her.  She runs away from him, all belongings fitted in a Barbie backpack, having few amounts of money and dolls, Barbie and Ken - to whom she occasionally talks to. She finds herself in the hustles and bustles in the city and finds work from selling postcards. She then found another work selling roses and realized that one can go hungry if one does not have a story.   

It’s a story of Mr. Hai, a reserved zookeeper who loves animals more than people, is nursing over the heartaches when his fiancé left him before they could be married. Time and again, he passed by the cellphone store where his ex-girlfriend is a saleslady. He wants to know if she is happy and has already finds another.  To add his agony, he is about to be separated by the elephant he has been caring since birth because the zoo could no longer support. The city is getting bigger – he was told.

It’s a story of Ms. Lan is a 26-year old flight attendant who is having affair with his already married captain. Going back and forth in the city, she stayed on a hotel where its receptionists tease her why despite having beauty and prestigious job, she does not receive any package or letters.  Deep inside, she felt guilt over his relationship with the captain. And though many would envy on the job she’s having, she does not really know what she wants to do in life.  From above on one of her flights, like a God, she could see the people down below: women on the field, children playing, sisters holding hands.  She’s quick to remind though that she’s not a God, only a 26-year old clueless searcher who still believes in fairy tales.

It’s a story how their lives were changed the moment their stories intertwined, three unlikely strangers bound together by a single thread - goodness of heart. The span is just 5 days- from Monday, the day Thuy run away from his uncle, to Friday where Ms. Lan has to fly back to her job. Five days seem so short for a good story to take place. Yet, it was just what happened. It was long enough to change one’s life should one have the dispositions to embrace the changes that lay ahead. It was long enough to change their lives forever.  Especially if that change is instigated by a 10-year old orphan whose few belongings are covered by the grandeur of her good spirit and innocence over the rugged city life.

Owl and the Sparrow reaffirmed my belief that gladness of heart and goodness of being can brought us farther than we could ever hope for or imagine.