The Drummer

by Kenneth Bi

“The Drummer” is the captivating story of a young man’s transformation from a reckless youth to a mature adult through the inspiration of chinese Zen Drumming. However, the story takes an unexpected turn, when his past catches up to him and he is caught between betrayal and loyalty. Finally he must struggle with the moral dilemma of choosing between forgiveness and revenge

Germany / China / Taiwan 2007, 113 min.

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In the East, the drum is the king of all musical instruments. The intense sound of the drum can penetrate a man’s body. The solemn beat of the drum can open a man’s heart. The powerful vibration of the drum can awaken a man’s soul.

Sid, the rebellious son of Kwan, a controlling and savage triad boss in Hong Kong, has to flee to Taiwan upon enraging his father’s adversary, a powerful tycoon and underground business leader. Hiding out in the mountains, Sid encounters a group of Zen drummers whose mesmerizing art, rigorous physical training, and austere way of life pique this hostile urban young man’s interest and he requests to join the group. Although Sid despises his father, he is turning out to be a younger version of him: wild and defiant. Immersing in the world of the Zen drummers eventually converts him into a firm and focused young man. Sid’s independence from the triad life and his father is profoundly challenged, however, when a twist of fate awaits him back home in Hong Kong and forces him to choose between loyalty to his family and his new found faith in himself …