Children of Invention was an entertaining film, to say the least. Director Tze Chun succeeded in telling a serious story while adding subtle, amusing touches that gave viewers a million and one reasons to like it! Casting children in such a movie can be a challenging task; however, the two youngsters chosen for the main leads were absolutely perfect for the roles they played. Crystal Chiu was my personal favorite – I could not think of a better person to portray the cute, naïve, yet intelligent child that she played. If Chun had not selected perfect actors for the characters in this film, I do not think it would have had the same effect.
Additionally, the story itself was uniquely done and covered a topic that is so prevalent in today's society. Watching the story unfold made me wonder how many other situations similar to this one are occurring across America. Although some of the filming could have been done a bit better, other aspects of the movie made up for these slight flaws. Not many films are made (at least not ones that I have been exposed to) about the plight of Chinese families who are trying to make a decent living in America. It is a bit of an overlooked problem and it was refreshing to see a director step out of the ordinary box and take on the task of making a movie like Children of Invention. Apart from the Chinese aspect, the "Ponzi" schemes that form the backbone of the climactic moment in the film are certainly relevant in American society today. Not only did this aspect reflect things that are currently happening, but it served as an informative lesson for viewers, warning them against the dangers of "get rich quick" schemes.
Overall, Children of Invention had an excellent balance of tense and sweet moments, truly working together to make an enjoyable film!
