u/nintendobug

I really adore this movie, and I'm hoping to understand more about it, beyond just seeing these charming characters find their way to being with each other. Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai are really wonderful with the way they express themselves, but what really fascinated me were how their characters - Li Qiao, and Li Xiao-Jun, came from specific parts of mainland China. Li Qiao came from Guangzhou, which she says has similarities to Hong Kong. Whereas Li Xiao-Jun was a northerner, who seems simpler in nature, contrasting Li Qiao's (and perhaps Hong Kong's?) more financially-centered goals to build wealth.

They both seem to find a deep connection within Teresa Teng's music, and Li Qiao, and other immigrants from the mainland hide their ties to avoid being othered. I could tell that within this more capitalist driven environment, Teresa Teng's songs really stood out as sincere, and sweet. There are some gaps in my understanding, since I am not from Hong Kong or China, and I'd really like to understand the deeper aspects of this story. Was there meant to be a parallel between the complicated turns in their romance, and Hong Kong & mainland China? I know certain directors like Wong Kar-Wai, and Hou Hsiao-hsien have done this in their movies and their countries, which is why I noticed it.

I'm also wondering if there was any significance in the US being the setting of the last act, given it might be more capitalist in nature compared to so many other parts of the world. It's interesting how something simple yet good like Teresa Teng's music playing on the news, is what ended up uniting them, even though the chances in such an environment are low. Really hoping to hear more of everyone's thoughts about this! Thanks in advance :)

I often get stuck in a wounded part of myself, am inner child version of me that says "I am nothing" or that there's nothing good about me. A lot of it comes from being compared to classmates who would do better than me in exams. My mother always would focus on their good qualities instead of me. In adulthood I also got cheated on by my first love, someone I considered to be a best friend.

I just find it hard to believe, even with my strengths and talents, that there's anything good or worthy about me. I'm looking for any thing, passages, chants, practices and perspectives that can help in such a situation

I'm in the middle of a career transition after my health got ruined recently.

Just taking time off now to try something new. I know good work-life balance is hard to find, but I'm still curious to hear what do folks here do for work, where they still get some time to do the things they like, and the rest they need in the week.

Hi everyone :)

Lately I have been experiencing some difficult emotions, since I have been struggling to socialize regularly. I left my old job, and find myself more alone at this time. I have been feeling this void in my chest, where I feel unseen, invisible, and like I've lost sight of my goodness. I have been mindful of these emotions, and have been meeting them diligently when they arise. I realize that in a way, I have the habit of expecting people to reflect my enoughness to me, and this has been an opportunity in meeting that need myself.

One of the practices I hope to create, is to wake up early in the morning, and address my inner child. I would like to talk to them with warmth, and simply be grateful for being alive, and getting to live the way I can. It can be difficult to do this, especially when I feel really alone, so I'd like to read out texts or rely on a meditation like metta meditation, in moments like that. Are there any such texts that would be good for this situation?

Thank you for reading :)

*Spoilers for the book, please turn away from this thread if you've not read it **

Some backstory, about 4 years ago, I experienced a really difficult friendship breakup. It left scars to this day, but at the time, I remember feeling like I was drifting in space, feeling a new emotion I hadn't experienced before. I was pretty desperate to understand what the emotion was, until I chanced upon this book in a bookstore one day. It was eerie reading the blurb, and eerier still reading through it, because it fully captured and helped me understand that empty, colorless feeling.

I'm quite in awe at how Murakami describes sections of the book, where the protagonist is emotionally numb, and drifting though life. I'm still hungry for books that talk about the experience, because to me, friendships breaking down or fading out can be a pretty tough thing to get through. I thought Murakami also resolved the character's wound well, by nudging him to see his color, and build an inner station that people feel comforted by. A lot of the dialogue that each of the friends say, also brought me a lot of closure.

Lately, I have been experiencing the same emptiness, from having less socializing over the last couple years, so I was thinking about the book. I'm curious to hear if other people resonated with this book, and if it helped them similarly. I just want to hear if anyone has experienced that same painful, empty, invisible experience.

I'm totally not a filmmaker, just someone who experiments a bit with my phone. Lately I've been feeling very stuck in my work and relationships, because they don't feel very meaningful at all. Over the years I chose a stable, unfulfilling path just so I don't screw myself financially (I'm the only support system I have!)

But it's evident I need filmmaking or storytelling to live. I'm too scared to go to film school or be in the industry, after seeing people here talk about the job insecurity and long hours. I'm someone who really values *some * financial stability, and my health. I was wondering if anyone has figured out their work life balance, or at least have gotten capable of handling all the stress and uncertainty from this line of work.

I'm willing to grow past my comfort zone, and everything I've mentioned here, if there's even a little chance balancing things.

TLDR; Just want to hear about filmmakers who have figured out a balance for themselves when it comes to the scale of their job and the balance with a stable, healthy life

I know it might sound a bit strange, but bear with me. I've spent all my 20s juggling between engineering (something I don't really care about, and felt pressured to do) and making my own art and stories. I know that I want to make comic books on the side, and try filmmaking for myself, while I also have something to pay the bills. That's not really a problem.

The issue is, because I studied in engineering college, most of the people I know, I don't relate to at all. I don't really like the people I've met very much, because of me not having any interest in what they're into. Also in general, we're not very like minded. Since making my art, I've bumped into like minded people at times and made friends with them. I really like and find a sort of belonging with people who like the arts, and are into it in some way.

Over the years I've isolated myself from heartbreak, and needing to focus more on engineering for bills. I'm hurting a lot because I don't know anyone now, most of my friendships faded after they got married or moved countries. The pain some days feels like a knife is cutting into me. I don't know where to meet people I'd love to talk to. I don't know how to make new friends. And it really stops me from my path, because it's a bit like it feels pointless being on it when there's no one to share it with ;_;

I'm open to hearing if there's something I could try to overcome this. I know that my social anxiety, or feeling unsafe around people has resulted in this situation too. Whether you have something to suggest or just came this far with reading it, thank you. It helps a bit to get these words out.

TLDR; Not having anyone to share life with has made me depressed and unwilling to try a path, even if I have some ideas. Need help figuring out how to make friends :')