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n an attempt to spark cultural understanding through insight into film, China’s government showcases its movies in “Chinese Film Week” in Jakarta and Surabaya as a key element of the “Experience China” festivities in Indonesia.

The films, all released in the past two years, included Ocean Heaven, Eternal Moment, City Monkey and After Shock, can all be seen to deal with family dynamics and relationships in a modern China.

Ocean Heaven (2010), follows an autistic 21-year old son and his terminally ill father in their heart-wrenching struggle to find a home for the son when the inevitable passing of the father shall occur. The lack of appropriate care facilities in China and the son’s disabilities make this quest near impossible, as it tests the patience and relationship to their fullest.

The romantic film based on the popular TV-series from the 90’s, Eternal Moment (2011), explores the complex dynamics of love and money, as a couple is placed in three separate scenarios surrounding love, divorce and reuniting based on the reconnection of two high school sweethearts.

City Monkey (2010) explores a young teenager obsessed with parkour (urban acrobatics) to the point where his educational achievements are struggling with his looming university entrance exams rapidly approaching.

Aftershock (2010), a dramatic tale based on the 1976 earthquake Tangshan, tells the story of a heartbroken mother forced to decide which of her children gets to survive the disaster as they are both pinned under the same narrowly balancing piece of debris.

These films were selected as a part of “Experience China” to provide a glimpse into values of Chinese society, reflecting strong commitments to family, traditions and a quest for a successful future.

With China’s growing importance on an international level, the films seem to say that although life and relationships contain great struggles, differences of opinion and unforeseen changes, the commitments made should be prioritized and ties should remain strong in order to overcome.

These messages of overcoming struggle recapitulate the goals of “Experience China in Indonesia”, aimed at not only celebrating and reflecting upon the history of the relations, but also as a means to look forward to the blossoming ties of the two regions.

During the opening ceremonies on July 6, Indonesian film star Christine Hakim reiterated that although China and Indonesia already have strong ties in politics and economy, films can be used to create a deeper human to human connection and promote understanding.