The Enchanting Phantom (Qian nü you hun: Ren jian qing) China (2020) Dir. Lin Zhenzhao It’s the same old story - boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, they are separated, can they get back together again? Except, as the title implies, this isn’t quite the same old story, as the girl in question happens to … Continue reading The Enchanting Phantom (Qian nü you hun: Ren jian qing)
Savage (Xue bao)
Savage (Xue bao) China (2018) Dir. Cui Siwei Patience is a virtue but some people run out of it pretty quickly, situation dictating of course. But, if all good things come to those who wait then theoretically so should the bad things, which makes the concept of patience a rather flawed one, doesn’t it? In … Continue reading Savage (Xue bao)
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Diqiu zuihou de yewan)
Long Day's Journey Into Night (Diqiu zuihou de yewan) China (2018) Dir. Bi Gan We all have that dream lover who completes us, but the problem is they only exist in dreams. Some people might be lucky enough to have this dream come true (not me) but there is always that chance you might wake … Continue reading Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Diqiu zuihou de yewan)
Timeless Romance (Chao shi kong ai lian)
Timeless Romance (Chao shi kong ai lian) China (2019) Dir. Tian Tian Many of us spend our lives trying to meet the expectations of others but rarely do we succeed if we don’t know where the fault lies. Clearly, we need help identifying these weaknesses but whom do we turn to? Maybe we don’t need … Continue reading Timeless Romance (Chao shi kong ai lian)
Better Days (Shao nian de ni)
Better Days (Shao nian de ni) China (2019) Dir. Derek Tsang As someone who as bullied at school and in my first two jobs, I can say with assurance that it is a truly soul destroying ordeal for anyone to endure. We are always told we should tell someone if we are being bullied but … Continue reading Better Days (Shao nian de ni)
The War Of Loong
The War Of Loong China (2017) Dir. Gao Feng When it comes to war the French have long been dismissed as “surrender monkeys”, which is a little odd when you consider the immense legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte. It also seems to have slipped a lot of people’s memories that they were once upon a time … Continue reading The War Of Loong
The Wild Goose Lake (Nan Fang Che Zhan De Ju Hui)
The Wild Goose Lake (Nan Fang Che Zhan De Ju Hui) China (2019) Dir. Diao Yinan Disclaimer - No geese were harmed in the making of this film. In fact, I don’t think any actually appear in it which is just as well, as there are a lot of nasty people betraying each other and … Continue reading The Wild Goose Lake (Nan Fang Che Zhan De Ju Hui)
To Live (Huo zhe)
To Live (Huo zhe) China/Hong Kong (1994) Dir. Zhang Yimou Political regimes will always hurt someone. That is a fact. The poor will always be at the bottom of the heap under a plutocracy, the unskilled and undereducated suppressed by a meritocracy, and Communism tends to screw everyone except for those at the very top. … Continue reading To Live (Huo zhe)
So Long, My Son
So Long, My Son (Cert 12) 1 Disc DVD (Distributor: Curzon/Artificial Eye) Running Time: 178 minutes approx. China is a complex country to us outsiders, and no doubt quite vexing to its inhabitants too. It can’t seem to make up its mind if it is a new capitalist superpower or one of the few remaining … Continue reading So Long, My Son
Happy Times (Xing fu shi guang)
Happy Times (Xing fu shi guang) China (2000) Dir. Zhang Yimou Lies and the lying liars who tell them. Even in the name of love, it is not a good idea to try to impress your prospective partner with a tiny - or massive - fib but some people can’t help themselves. Surely, no good … Continue reading Happy Times (Xing fu shi guang)
