osuhaha Reviews

Lust, Caution (2007)

Thank you, Ang Lee and the whole crew!

[10/10 · 20 October 2007]

I watched the film twice and was riveted by every minute of it. I am convinced that Ang Lee is one of the greatest directors of our time. Thank you, Ang Lee and the whole crew, for contributing another masterpiece to Chinese-language film and world cinema; for the unprecedented representation of people's struggles for survival in wartime China with such depth, subtlety, elegance, and precision; for bringing alive Wang Chia Chi and Mr. Yee--and also Kuang Yu Ming and others; for providing an alternative perspective to love, life, war, nation, patriotism, loyalty, drama, politics, and morality; for bringing body heat, blood, flesh, and tears to Eileen Chang's cold and cynic short story; for rescuing individual complexities from the grand narrative of nation, politics, and morality!

And for those who debate whether it is a love story, I would say that if your definition of love is bounded by morally acceptable caring relationship, then it is not; but if you have more sympathy for people who are attracted someone against their will, then it is a love story in essence! To me, Mr. Yee is someone who lives in darkness but desperately yearns for light and Chia Chi, who still retains her naivety in that turmoil and twisted time, is the only hope for light and trust in his twisted life. The scene when he comes home to stop Chia Chi from leaving for Hong Kong (while she is still performing her role of seducer) already reveals his strong feelings for her. Chia Chi, on the other hand, starting from feeling sympathetic for him, also finds the love and care that she calls for but gets no response in her own family, Kuang Yuming, and "comrades". Unfortunately, both of them are just screws of the ruthless state (no matter which one it is) machines beyond their control...

Saving Face (2004)

clichéd Hollywood drama repackaged

[6/10 · 10 February 2006]

A romantic comedy about Chinese American lesbians and generational conflicts, sounds unconventional, right? Well, the opening of the film does look promising, smooth and dynamic, with good rhythm. But soon I found myself watching just another formulated Hollywood style melodrama with clichéd caricature of Mainland Chinese immigrants being thrown in here and there. The turn and twist of the plot is melodramatic and the representation of Chinese community in Flusing is unsurprisingly stereotypical. As the film develops, I was really disappointed for the narrative and visual style being manipulated in such a emotional and clichéd way. Chinese American lesbians story could be just a smart marketing strategy to cater for curious Western audience with its exoticism and eroticism while our society starts becoming more tolerant toward homosexuality.

The two youthful lovers do give some refreshing touch to the film, but they don't seem to have real connection with other characters. Joan Chen's role as a Chinese daughter/mother, being obedient--in the sense of giving herself up to a marriage chosen by her father--and defiant--getting pregnant by a much younger lover after being widowed for many years--at the same time, is not convincing and consistent.

These being said, Alice Wu makes a decent directorial debut, but it would be an overstatement to claim it a excellent one.