based on the book by bana yoshimoto, these are 2 of the features that permeate this quiet and composed reverie on the nature of loss and the impact breavement has on the spirit and what it takes to overcome this. the book is similarly composed although the characterisation seems to have been changed slightly...aggie seems a little more reserved and kooky than in the book and jordan chan in my opinion does not carry the depth that yoshio's character in the book had.
nevertheless, distanced from the book the film is still pleasing to watch, the grace of the visuals typically that of a slightly avant garde hong kong filmmaker, and as such the film tends to suffer slightly from a lack of substance, this is partly to be blamed on the screenplay. the majority of the emotional depth comes from the mother, who to be fair, was always going to be very difficult to portray on screen but is here accomplished very well. in my opinion, the scene of aggie on the rooftop which was mentioned in a previous review as being singularly demonstrative of aggie's gried seems contrived and trite compared to the reserved and less overt sadness carried by loui's mother in every scene she appears in, even when expressing joy the undercurrent of the loss he/she feels for her wife is manifest at all times; physically in her transformation into a woman.
this is a dreamy little wisp of a movie, whilst neither profound or a tour de force of acting, but if u like quirky little movies like this, then this is very well realised and i can say that i like it despite its flaws. the book can be film better; having seen in the mood for love, wong kar wai seems to be the man for the job though i doubt he will have time for it.
nevertheless, distanced from the book the film is still pleasing to watch, the grace of the visuals typically that of a slightly avant garde hong kong filmmaker, and as such the film tends to suffer slightly from a lack of substance, this is partly to be blamed on the screenplay. the majority of the emotional depth comes from the mother, who to be fair, was always going to be very difficult to portray on screen but is here accomplished very well. in my opinion, the scene of aggie on the rooftop which was mentioned in a previous review as being singularly demonstrative of aggie's gried seems contrived and trite compared to the reserved and less overt sadness carried by loui's mother in every scene she appears in, even when expressing joy the undercurrent of the loss he/she feels for her wife is manifest at all times; physically in her transformation into a woman.
this is a dreamy little wisp of a movie, whilst neither profound or a tour de force of acting, but if u like quirky little movies like this, then this is very well realised and i can say that i like it despite its flaws. the book can be film better; having seen in the mood for love, wong kar wai seems to be the man for the job though i doubt he will have time for it.