American West, Wyoming, ranch, a beautiful place, empty, remote and pure. There are two special old people living on the ranch, Aina and Mitch. Aina's son Griffin died in a car accident after his wife Jane drove carelessly. Aina can't forgive her daughter-in-law Jane's mistakes, and clings to the sad past in hatred. Mitch, a friend he had worked with for decades, was paralyzed by a bear and required daily injections and Aina's care. Day after day, unremarkable yet peaceful.
After Griffin's death, Jane was forced to leave the house with her child. Later found a boyfriend, but he often abused her until she couldn't take it anymore and ran away from home with the child. She has no other relatives, only to go to Aina. By this time the child was eleven years old. Yeah, they haven't seen each other in eleven years. When they meet again, what will happen to them after such a reunion that they don't want to meet each other? It was clear that Aina could not accept them, the mother and daughter who had suddenly appeared. Because the pain of losing a child is still in Aina's heart.
The film has always been based on their feelings as clues to develop the plot. At the same time, there is a hidden clue, that is, the relationship between Mitch and the bear. At first I didn't understand why Mitch asked Ainardi to go to the zoo to see the bear that hurt him so he couldn't take care of himself, why he asked Aina to feed it, why he was paralyzed on crutches. The body went to see the bear, why asked Aina to let the bear go. At first I really didn't understand, but then I gradually understood, he said to Aina: "We can't keep it there, we disturb it, it's just a bear's instinct, we can't punish it for that. "Yeah, Mitch forgave the bear, he forgave the bear that paralyzed him. Because he knew it wasn't the bear's intention to hurt him. At the same time, he is also implying that his old friend Aina forgets the past, forgives the past, and lets go of the pain. After all, Jane didn't mean to let Griffin have an accident. Everyone should cherish what they have now, shouldn't they?
For Jane, she couldn't understand why Aina couldn't listen to her explain the accident, and she left Aina angrily with her daughter to go to her boss. The boss is a fat woman, and also has the pain of losing her son, so she understands Aina, she tells Jane her feelings, and let Jane try to understand Aina.
It is gratifying that the youngest daughter actually developed feelings for her grandfather Aina, and she ran back to the ranch alone. The plot twists here. Aina also developed feelings for her granddaughter in the friction again and again. This kind of warmth gradually spread, and finally spread to his daughter-in-law Zhen, who has held grudges for many years. Yes, he began to learn to forgive.
Mitch forgave Aina for getting drunk when he was attacked by the bear. Aina was drunk all day because of her own past. As a result, it hurts the people around him once again. Aina forgave her little granddaughter for breaking two ribs because she was too nervous. Later, Aina even offered to let her granddaughter go to school there. It means he forgives Jane.
This is a very down-to-earth film, just showing the dribs and drabs of life, no exaggerated sensationalism, no overly commercial elements, no overly dull and suffocating plots, and no dramatic conflicts. There are very few such types in so many films. It is simple and warm, and more importantly, it expresses a choice to the audience, a wise choice, that is forgiveness. Live in the present and let go of the past, no matter how sad or heavy it is, it has become the past. Forgive others for their inadvertent mistakes, give others a chance to be forgiven, and give yourself a chance to free yourself, appreciate everything around you with your heart, and love those who stay. This is a wise choice.
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