One man's journey through a contentious 2013

Director Feng Xiaogang. Photo provided to China Daily

The second controversy I found myself in has not died down yet. It's about Personal Tailor, Feng Xiaogang's dark comedy that debuted on Dec 19. I wrote a largely positive review, with some reservations. It turned out I was among a minority. Most film critics lambasted it. They hated the social commentary embedded in the film. For me, it is a sign of Feng's social conscience which, despite the uneven treatment, deserves credit.

Over the weekend, I went to a discussion of the movie hosted by the China Film Museum. The scores of audience participants voiced a wide range of opinions, with their overall score averaging around 75 points. It dawned on me that what appeared as a polarized reaction online does no reflect a wider audience at all. This has been borne out by the continued performance of the movie at the box office.

Never have I cared about whether my take on a film belongs to the majority or minority, whether it agree with the elite or the masses. I only care that it speaks my mind. But in the eyes of many, a critic should be held up as a barometer of some kind, as if one should act as a popularly elected leader spewing platitudes. We're still a long way from respecting differences in opinion and outlook.

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Film 'Personal Tailor' premieres in Beijing

'Personal Tailor' sets box office records