Firstly, I just wanted to thank Alton for letting me share my thoughts with you all.

Set in China in the mid-eighties, this movie is about ordinary people who dreamed to become better ones, to be artists. This is a a similar theme to the director’s last film, Peacock.

It’s well written and directed. Even though it’s a sad story, it has some silly humour to make you smile now and again, which works really well, it cuts through the drama nicely.

There are some beautiful looking shots of a traditional pagoda. Some stunning cinematography. The scenes in the city are lush, with a contrast between the greys and browns of the boxes and the colours of the clothing.

I thought was a wonderful film and I think it should be pushed out for the mainstream to savour.
Hopefully this film could be the start of more Chinese films out there in the cinemas.

Jacq

© BRWC 2010.