ron-chow Reviews

Red Lights (2004)

A positive experience of French cinema

[8/10 · 25 November 2008]

This is the first and only film I have seen by Cedric Kahn, so I have no way of judging if this is one of his better works, or less. I notice some reviewers expressed a total dislike for this film, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.

As the film began, the drive took place, and the quibbles emerged between Antoine and his wife, I began to relate to the film because this scenario probably happens daily in many places across the world between a husband and a wife. What made this incident unique, and dramatic, is the other factors that came to play - encounters with a dangerous convict on the run by both protagonists, and Antoine's indulgence of alcohol resulting in him committing certain out-of-ordinary acts. I began to developed a sense of disdain for Antoine as the film progressed, until I saw redemption toward the end.

This is a slow film that demands attention. It is one of the more memorable, contemporary French films that I have experienced in the past decade. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys French cinema.

Alice (I) (2005)

Good work from an emerging director

[7/10 · 22 November 2008]

First of all the version of 'Alice' that I watched was a DVD copy shown on a big screen, in a local film festival. The color was pale and breached. The film may as well be in B/W as far as I was concerned. I suspect the original 35mm version carries much better visual quality and would have enhanced my liking for film quite a bit.

I have not seen many Portuguese films in the past and regard this to be one of the well-directed and well-acted films from Europe. As a parent, I can relate to the agony and motivation of the parents portrayed in 'Alice'. My still-single friend, on the other hand, also watched the film but did not find the story engaging. But I do.

The ending was well done, although I wish it was done with a more positive note. But, as in real life, not all endeavors result in a happy ending so I really don't have a problem with that.

Overall, I find it to be a solid film for serious film-goers. Parental experience would heighten the viewing experience, I believe.

Still Life (2006)

An excellent , contemporary piece from China

[9/10 · 8 October 2008]

I knew little about the work of director Jia Zhang Ke, and Still Life (or The Good People of the Three Gorges) provides me with an excellent introduction to his work.

Several films have been done to depict the changes, to the lives of many residents, associated with the Three Gorges project. Still Life is one of them but also uses this backdrop to tell two stories of man-women relationship, its disintegration and possible reconciliation.

The movie is slow moving, but at a pace relevant to the sentiment being conveyed. The camera work is great. Acting, most likely by non-professional actors, was solid.

I was in the Three Gorges area some 10 years ago before the commencement of the Project, and could relate to the scenery and people in that area. The film was done without excessive sentiment, and director Jia took his time to tell the stories in an unpretentious and yet elaborate fashion.

I highly recommend the film, and will seek out Jia's work in the future.

Koktebel (2003)

Enjoyable Contemporary Russian Cinema

[7/10 · 7 October 2008]

I stumbled upon the DVD version of this film and, being a moderate fan of Russian cinema, made the time investment to watch it.

The film was slow, and some takes were, in my opinion, unnecessarily long. The hand-held, back-and-forth capture of the boy throwing stones at a heap of junk strained my eyes, and I found it annoying and unnecessary.

However, the film also has the typical merits of a low-budget, personal film which does have a story to tell. The acting was fine, the story simple and yet believable, and the shots were visually pleasing.

This is by no means a great film, but I will recommend it to anyone who is fond of Russian cinema, and has the patience and a desire to have glimpses of modern Russia.

Up the Yangtze (2007)

A good documentary, though not a masterpiece

[8/10 · 3 July 2008]

I finally watched this film during its third run at a local art-house cinema, having missed it on two previous occasions. I enjoyed the film, but at the same time felt it could have been done better. The knitting could have been tighter.

Ten years ago I took a boat trip up the Yangtze, starting from ChongQing. No, I was not on a 5-star cruiser depicted in this film. My boat was much more modest, and smaller. At night I could hear rats racing across the ceiling. But it was, nevertheless, an enjoyable trip. The water level was much lower at that time, so the cliff faces were higher and more impressive. What I once saw is now mostly submerged, as was chronicled in this film. Taking this trip 'Up the Yangtze' again on the big screen sure brought back fond memories.

Overall I find the focus on the demise of a poor family affected by the rising water level, and the activities surrounding large cruise ships catering to well-off visitors from around the world to be a good and relevant backdrop to this informative documentary. The acting and interviews were well conducted, with unforced ease and human sentiment. At the end, you draw your own conclusion who to sympathize with, whether you want to point fingers at the establishment, or just resign to the fact that progress toward modernization, in any country, comes with a price.

As the end credits rolled on the screen, a band played 'To traverse a big sea you need a good navigator', a song composed and forced into the ears of every Chinese national during the Culteral Revolution - in praise of Mao, the 'Navigator'. It was a great propaganda song but the band, using inappropriate instruments, made a mess of it and it sounded like white noise. I don't know why the director did not chose the far more superior 'choir' version, which would have been more becoming to close out a good documentary. This is just one example of how some fine-tuning and refinements could have brought this film one step closer to being a masterpiece.

Nuan (2003)

An engaging love story set in rustic, contemporary China

[8/10 · 10 March 2008]

While the director and actors may be known in China, they are totally unknown to me. So it is with an open mind that I invested my evening hours to watch this 2003 film on my TV screen.

I liked it very much. The film was shot mostly in the rural parts of the Jiangxi province in China. The story was about first love, a promise broken, and the subsequent regret that followed. The pace was unhurried, acting decent, and the setting beautiful to look at. The story was told through a young man who left the village to go to university and then wound up working and living in Beijing. Ten years has passed before he returned to the village for a quick visit. There, by chance, he ran into the woman he once loved deeply as a teenage.

As I write these notes I still recall scenes of the fast bike ride down the country path, the walk over the foot bridge, and the herding of ducks through the marshes. According to the director, this film was not expected to be a commercial success in China. I find this to be a shame. It is one of the best love stories I have ever watched on a screen.

Center Stage (1991)

An Interesting depiction of life of an actress in the bygone days

[7/10 · 3 February 2008]

I stumbled on a DVD copy of the film from the local library, but before that I never heard of this film. Stanley Kwan also directed Rouge, a film I enjoyed and liked very much, and that prompted my decision to make the time investment to watch it.

Center Stage, aka Yuen Ling-Yuk (Cantonese pronunciation of the main character) or Ruan Ling-Yu (the mandarin equivalent) is a slow film, a period piece focused on the life and premature death of an actress in the 30's in China. As a kid growing up in Asia several decades ago I never watched B/W silent films, so Yuen was never known to me, until now.

It was a slow film, but well acted and researched. I enjoyed the depiction of Shanghai in the 30's and the personification of various people in the entertainment circle. This film is obviously not for everyone. For the selected few with the interest or the cultural background, it is a film worth watching. If nothing else, it is a cultural lesson on the filming business and a snapshot of the Chinese society in 1930. Seeing some big name actors in it, doing what they do best, is a bonus.

Sansho the Bailiff (1954)

A timeless masterpiece

[10/10 · 24 September 2007]

The first time I saw this film was when I was in university. It impressed me greatly then. Watching it again recently invoked the same emotion - I was deeply saddened by the horrific acts one human can do to the other. And guess what, a century later the human race has not really advanced that much in this area.

While the film also highlights the noble side of us - compassion and mercy to the weak, maintenance of integrity amid suffering - it is the downside of it that gets me. I finished the movie feeling depressed, as I did several decades ago.

Super B/W photography, a good story, and masterly directing by Mizoguchi make this a classic film of all time. Find an evening when you yearn for artistic fulfillment, and yet are prepared to pay an emotional price for it. Highly recommended for the serious film buffs.

Everest E.R. (2006)

A 'must' for Everest fans

[8/10 · 20 March 2007]

This is a one-hour documentary made for TV viewing, which I saw last night. I am not a climber, but Everest fascinates for what it is.

As I watched the film and marveled at the majestic view of the mountain, my mind was full of questions like why people would leave the comfort of the urban dwellings to put their lives in great danger trying to climb Everest, and in doing so probably jeopardizing the lives of others, such as their rescuers, as well. But again, in some way I understand the desire and need to be at the top of the world.

Seeing the base camp doctors at work put things into perspective - the harsh environment, the deadly consequences of extreme cold and oxygen deprivation. I admire their courage and selflessness to do what they do. No doubt, they are mountain lovers, and their service to the local community makes their work all the more worthwhile.

The film also reviews the increasing commercialization of conquering Everest. This is a disturbing trend. Hopefully some day we can reach a balance between a physical and mental challenge for mankind, and the preservation of a major landmark on this planet.

Cha ma gu dao xi lie (2004)

A slow documentary, but educational and rewarding

[8/10 · 21 January 2007]

This is a documentary done about people that live around the 'Tea-Horse' route in a southern region of China bordering Yunnan and Tibet. The route is far less known than its northern counterpart, the Silk Route. I was never aware of it until I saw this film and now I have a desire to visit it some day.

Camera work was visually satisfying. The scenery was unique and gorgeous. Interviews with the locals were honest and unpretentious, although some could be cut short to reduce the overall length of the film from over 2 hours to, say, 90 minutes to make this film a bit tighter and less tedious.

You will find this film interesting if you care about how people live in that part of the world. The part that is totally disconnected from the economic engine of China; the part where time appears to have stood still for decades. There is this family of devout Catholics, and the story how their members maintained their faith throughout the political turmoil. And there are these two Tibetan brothers who shared a wife and still achieve harmony. And other characters that are very removed from our daily life.

The film is about simple people, their environment, and their aspirations. I find it very educational and visually rewarding.

Three Times (2005)

Three Times confirms Hou's mastery in story telling

[9/10 · 20 October 2006]

I saw this film first on the big screen, and then from a DVD. As a person in the same age bracket as Hou, and one who is familiar with certain aspects of the Chinese history in the past century and had visited Taiwan on a few occasions, I feel I can relate more to this film than those who do not have my benefits.

In particular, I was disappointed when a local Canadian film critic said this film is about the 'reincarnation' of two lovers. But this has nothing to do with reincarnation and how wrong she was! So my point is, viewers without the relevant background, and patience in particular, will find the film far less satisfying then I do. But again, many viewers will share my strong sentiment toward this film even without the knowledge and exposure to the social and chronological back drops of the stories. As well, I rate the satisfaction factors of the three stories in the same order as most viewers, i.e. the first episode is the best of the three, and the last is probably the weakest, perhaps due to the very nature of the plot.

Hou is definitely one of the few great directors of our time. As his devoted fan, I hope he will continue to make films of this quality in the years to come. Watching his film makes me feel very under- accomplished. But it is a price I am willing to pay.