very different topic treat in this film . a straightforward and simple description of local chinese custom and by look at the daily operation of a public bath and run by the old owner and his retarded son and when old son return home and wrongly believe his father have die . how every man in town make his daily visit to chat and play game and discuss personal matter and get honest advice and besides the usual spa like therapy . when old man die and strong and loyal family tie make old son take charge and so public bath operation be not disrupt . and finally and the arrival of modernization to end this way of spending relaxed hour and get along . the public bath have to be demolish and make place for a commercial complex to be construct .