Sure, the FL is a shrinking violet - thatās her personality, I get it. But itās not satisfying to see her helpless, especially when we know she has the capability to retaliate. Push back, curse or whatever, just do a better job at protecting your bf. Anything but āheās sick!ā (In mandarin, this line has a really negative connotation which rubbed me the wrong way). Itās fiction - they couldāve literally made her do anything without consequence. Because nobody wants to see their friends get hurt, let alone someone in a vulnerable state like the ML. That scene really defies logic to me.
I would have to completely disagree with you and I suffer from PTSD. Though yes it is outdated the way it is being…
I don't have a problem with the way PTSD was portrayed at all - rather the way the subject was handled. I rmb it was mentioned that the prognosis was that there is no hope for a cure... wtf is that supposed to mean? And how does that make people who are looking forward to getting better feel? They're basically telling you to give up.
I know some people might disagree with me, but in the end, I canāt recommend The White Olive Tree. Somehow, it feels like an insult to people with actual PTSD. The drama portrays a very outdated mentality toward mental illnessāwhich is especially baffling given that it tries to depict China as the more progressive of the featured countries. Depicting PTSD as a bleak and incurable ādiseaseā is not only blatantly wrong but also harmful. It does nothing to help those who actually suffer from it; instead, it isolates and stigmatizes them even further. I donāt know if this is truly how the majority of people in China view mental illness, but even if that were the case, the drama could have handled it with more empathy and sensitivity. This is exactly why itās more important than ever to raise mental health awareness in a way that is respectful and accurate.
Thank you for your thoughtful explanation; I truly appreciate you sharing these insights. I understand that every…
Yes, there are still Chinese Kazakhs who practice Islam in its traditional form, observing daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and following Islamic dietary rules. However, the level of religious adherence variesāsome follow Islam strictly, while others practice in a more cultural or symbolic way.
Kazakhs in China historically practiced Islam in ways similar to their counterparts in Kazakhstan and other parts of Central Asia, blending it with their nomadic traditions, and this can be seen as more of a cultural identity rather than a religious one.
Currently, there are no restriction on how one practices and observes their faith in China, but that is not relevant to the drama, especially since To the Wonder deliberately keeps religious elements ambiguous.
Ultimately, I hope you can enjoy this drama with a new unbiased lens, appreciating it for its storytelling and cultural themes rather than viewing it through assumptions about religion.
- The customs reflect the real lives of Kazakh herders in China, as the series was adapted from Li Juanās firsthand accounts. While Kazakhs are traditionally Muslim, their level of religious observance varies. Many Kazakhs in China practice a more syncretic form of Islam influenced by centuries of interaction with Mongols, Russians, and Han Chinese. In this context, drinking alcohol, mixed-gender dancing, and even interfaith marriages do exist, though they may not align with stricter interpretations of Islam.
- Alcohol consumption is indeed haram in Islam, but in reality, many Kazakhs, particularly in China and Kazakhstan, do drink, especially in social settings. Kumis (fermented mareās milk) is a culturally significant drink among Turkic and Mongolic nomadic peoples, and other forms of alcohol are commonly consumed at celebrations, including weddings.
- Intermingling at social gatherings, particularly through communal dances and singing, is also common among Kazakhs in China. While Islamic traditions discourage such interactions, local customs often take precedence. Kazakh weddings, especially in rural areas, maintain a mix of Islamic and pre-Islamic traditions, reflecting the cultural fluidity of the region.
- As for Tokan's relationship, Kazakhs in China do sometimes marry non-Muslims, particularly in regions where different ethnic groups live in close proximity. The series presents this matter without passing judgment, which aligns with its overall approachāshowing life as it is rather than through an ideological lens. The presence of Buddhist imagery in the Mongol home reflects the reality of mixed families and cultural exchange in the Altay region.
- The deeper message of the series is one of adaptationāminorities navigating the pressures of a changing world and reconciling the need to preserve identity with the inevitability of progress. It's about letting go of tradition and embracing change (such as Sulitan having his guns confiscated,and giving up on falconry, and his final acceptance of letting Batay and Tokan follow their dreams, and even dating whoever they want).
I feel that this is intentional, but the biggest irony is the Lada in the movie being durable as a tank and capable of surviving all those exaggerated stunts unscathed, because that cheap ass car is notorious for being unreliable and flimsy and horrible to drive in the real world.
Some background: Yunnan is known to be a region that shares a border with the "Golden Triangle," an area that encompasses parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, and is notorious for drug production and trafficking. Despite efforts to combat drug trafficking, it continues to be a significant issue in the region, with authorities regularly intercepting large quantities of drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and synthetic drugs, being smuggled into China.
I remember travelling to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province a few years ago. The Burmese border was heavily patrolled with armed police and military, and the grass at the rest stop was littered with used syringes. It was fitting to see this drama being set in Yunnan, highlighting real issues that exist in the area.
I didn't hear any hype about this movie here in sydney, but I walked in on a sold-out session at the cinema tonight. I've never even seen a theater this packed before, not even for hollywood blockbusters pre-covid. The audience even applauded at the dedication to Ng Man Tat.
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The drama portrays a very outdated mentality toward mental illnessāwhich is especially baffling given that it tries to depict China as the more progressive of the featured countries.
Depicting PTSD as a bleak and incurable ādiseaseā is not only blatantly wrong but also harmful. It does nothing to help those who actually suffer from it; instead, it isolates and stigmatizes them even further.
I donāt know if this is truly how the majority of people in China view mental illness, but even if that were the case, the drama could have handled it with more empathy and sensitivity. This is exactly why itās more important than ever to raise mental health awareness in a way that is respectful and accurate.
Kazakhs in China historically practiced Islam in ways similar to their counterparts in Kazakhstan and other parts of Central Asia, blending it with their nomadic traditions, and this can be seen as more of a cultural identity rather than a religious one.
Currently, there are no restriction on how one practices and observes their faith in China, but that is not relevant to the drama, especially since To the Wonder deliberately keeps religious elements ambiguous.
Ultimately, I hope you can enjoy this drama with a new unbiased lens, appreciating it for its storytelling and cultural themes rather than viewing it through assumptions about religion.
- The customs reflect the real lives of Kazakh herders in China, as the series was adapted from Li Juanās firsthand accounts. While Kazakhs are traditionally Muslim, their level of religious observance varies. Many Kazakhs in China practice a more syncretic form of Islam influenced by centuries of interaction with Mongols, Russians, and Han Chinese. In this context, drinking alcohol, mixed-gender dancing, and even interfaith marriages do exist, though they may not align with stricter interpretations of Islam.
- Alcohol consumption is indeed haram in Islam, but in reality, many Kazakhs, particularly in China and Kazakhstan, do drink, especially in social settings. Kumis (fermented mareās milk) is a culturally significant drink among Turkic and Mongolic nomadic peoples, and other forms of alcohol are commonly consumed at celebrations, including weddings.
- Intermingling at social gatherings, particularly through communal dances and singing, is also common among Kazakhs in China. While Islamic traditions discourage such interactions, local customs often take precedence. Kazakh weddings, especially in rural areas, maintain a mix of Islamic and pre-Islamic traditions, reflecting the cultural fluidity of the region.
- As for Tokan's relationship, Kazakhs in China do sometimes marry non-Muslims, particularly in regions where different ethnic groups live in close proximity. The series presents this matter without passing judgment, which aligns with its overall approachāshowing life as it is rather than through an ideological lens. The presence of Buddhist imagery in the Mongol home reflects the reality of mixed families and cultural exchange in the Altay region.
- The deeper message of the series is one of adaptationāminorities navigating the pressures of a changing world and reconciling the need to preserve identity with the inevitability of progress. It's about letting go of tradition and embracing change (such as Sulitan having his guns confiscated,and giving up on falconry, and his final acceptance of letting Batay and Tokan follow their dreams, and even dating whoever they want).
Yunnan is known to be a region that shares a border with the "Golden Triangle," an area that encompasses parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, and is notorious for drug production and trafficking. Despite efforts to combat drug trafficking, it continues to be a significant issue in the region, with authorities regularly intercepting large quantities of drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and synthetic drugs, being smuggled into China.
I remember travelling to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan Province a few years ago. The Burmese border was heavily patrolled with armed police and military, and the grass at the rest stop was littered with used syringes. It was fitting to see this drama being set in Yunnan, highlighting real issues that exist in the area.