Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Bao

film

Bao

2018

An aging Chinese mother suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy.

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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character2/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Violence2/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Kindness & empathy4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character2/5
Why this rating?

The mother symbolically 'kills' her son by eating him, representing the loss of their previous relationship dynamic.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

The grown dumpling has a fiancée, but romance is brief and secondary to the mother-son relationship.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

The sudden action of consuming the child figure is startling and potentially frightening for younger viewers.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Includes a shocking moment where the mother eats her living dumpling son in a moment of intense emotional distress.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

Characters face loneliness, changing family roles, and emotional pain, eventually taking steps toward honest connection.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The imaginative premise turns a familiar family transition into a distinctive fantasy metaphor using lively food characters.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

A Chinese Canadian family is portrayed with cultural specificity and emotional depth; the story centers their agency and experience.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It offers incidental cultural and family insight, including Chinese Canadian food traditions, but is not instructional.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Caregiving, family support, sharing food, and reconciliation are central, despite overprotectiveness and conflict.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

Strongly supports honest communication, family connection, accepting children’s independence, and reconciliation after conflict.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The family shows care and ultimately repairs its relationship, though the mother’s controlling behavior and desperate choice are troubling.

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Bao would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Bao, and what caused that change?
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