Jackie Chan isn’t quite his usual self in Li Taiyan’s quietly charming story about an Unexpected Family coming together. Ren Jiqing (Chan) is losing his memories due to age. He is often unsure who is whom, and seeing him not rise to the occasion, instead playing a befuddled role, is rather amazing. Instead of turning on the charm, he has to dial back the athleticism we know him for.
It’s easy to sympathize with him when Bufan (Peng Yuchang) drifts into town looking for work, only to be mistaken for the old man’s estranged son, Zhuangzhuang. There’s gentle humour woven into this slice-of-life drama, released during Chinese New Year. The festive backdrop contrasts the passage of time as we watch Jiqing slowly deteriorate. It’s heartbreaking, and even when I caught myself thinking, “oh, he knows,” what follows still had me reaching for the tissue box.
Baseball—often called America’s greatest pastime—takes centre field in Eephus. Even the title hints at its niche appeal: the “eephus” pitch is a slow, deceptive throw that only true baseball aficionados will recognize. But beyond its clever name, this film is less about the sport itself and more about the people playing it—a group of small-town locals in Massachusetts gathering for one last, low-stakes game on a fading field.
Now playing at select cinemas in Canada. Please check local listings (or see below)
Available to stream on YouTube (free, see below)