**UPDATE 1/27/16**: Several reviewers have expressed concerns with a lack of subtitles on the Amazon Instant Video version of the film; I can't speak to that claim, but I do know that the physical version of this film (DVD/Blu-ray) definitely has subtitles. If you're uncertain about the instant video version, I can assure you the physical version has no such issues.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Let me start by saying I'm not intimately familiar with the work of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, so I came into this film not knowing quite what to expect. I'm not going to outline the story here, because I think reviews should be more about impressions, and because the details of the plot are perhaps the least important aspect of this film. Here are the things I was blown away by:
The framing, colors, and all-around genius of the visual language Hou Hsiao-Hsien creates are all simply magnificent. The camera often lingers on images dozens of seconds longer than most films would dare, whether it be a flower, a field, a meditative character, etc. "Slow" is perhaps an understatement, so if that bothers you, I can guarantee you won't enjoy this film. I, for one, appreciated the opportunity to consider the subjects on which the director lingers, and there was one particular moment -- or rather, two -- that really sold this particular style for me. Somewhere around the first third of the film, there is a scene that shows a man sitting alone in a room. He has a lazy, neutral expression on his face that, at first, suggests depression or some kind of sadness. But as the camera lingers, we begin to wonder if there is something else going on beneath the surface. Now, when the scene was over (and rest assured, there was more to the scene than that, but again, I'm not getting into the story here) I forgot about it until close to the end of the film, when we are given a few lingering shots of goats. The camera closes in on the faces of the animals, and I was immediately reminded of the expression on the man's face in the earlier scene. It's extraordinary to see two seemingly disparate scenes at opposite ends of the film come together in this fashion; I have my own ideas about what Hsiao-Hsien is trying to say there, but in any case, my point is that while it may be tempting at times to wonder why the hell you're getting a lingering shot of an inanimate object or an equally inanimate person, such shots are always purposeful. You just need to think.
Additionally, I have to talk about how action violence is treated in the film. This is not traditional wuxia. Really, it cannot be called an "action" film at all. When there is violence, it happens quite suddenly and is over quickly (the opening scene, shot in black and white, is a beautiful example of the ephemeral nature of the film's action). I don't remember seeing a drop of blood. There is no flying through the air or leaping like superman.The only touch of the mystical occurs late in the film and is all the more effective for its unexpectedness. None of this is to say the film is boring, of course. The judicious use of action makes every action scene feel important and impactful.
Music is approached similarly. Where it appears, it is absorbing, but you are not saturated with an omnipresent soundtrack (unless, of course, you count the sounds of nature). The ending is a prime example of why this is a good decision. Even if the rest of the film had been utter trash, the combination of the ending's music and visuals would have been enough to sell me on seeing it again. I won't get more specific about that, because I want you to be as surprised as I was.
All in all, I really cannot think of anything this film gets wrong. Obviously, as I mentioned, you won't want to see this if you prefer fast-paced editing, and you will be disappointed if you are looking for a completely novel plot (My intention is not to be pejorative on either of those counts; everyone has their tastes. I am simply expressing mine, and warning those who may not share them). But if you want your eyes and ears to be ravished, and if you appreciate directors who give you time to consider deceptively straightforward images that have multiple layers of symbolic and literal meaning, I can't imagine how you could be disappointed. Enjoy!
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About Well Go USA
Well Go USA Entertainment is an Oscar-nominated theatrical and home entertainment label that specializes in bringing one of the best in action, genre, and independent films from the U.S. and around the world to North America. Well Go titles can be seen across a variety of platforms, including in theaters, on-demand, via DVD and Blu-ray and on television, as well as on mobile and connected devices through martial arts action channel Hi-YAH!.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2015
The acting without a script or a director was the most amazing part ... and I actually get the plot.
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2021Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2016
Top reviews from other countries
FilmFan2010
Another great film from Taiwanes director Hou HH
Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2016
frozensuricateOptions
It is also a long time that I hoped such a great movie! The outdoor decors are simply superb
Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2016