A charming romantic comedy, set mainly in China, 1958. A young man returns to his village home after his father dies, and recounts the tale of how his father and mother met and fell in love. Such a romance was unheard of, as the village custom at that time was built on arranged marriages. The bookends are about how the people in the area pay homage to his father, who was a schoolteacher there for 40 years. The film has won some prestigious international awards. Chinese with English subtitles.
88 minutes, All ages
Comedy, Drama, Romance, On the Art Circuit
Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia, Guangxi Film Studios
Ratings
Scale (Max)
20
South African Media
The MoviesiteIan Douglas
14
Cape ArgusAldrin Naidu
15
Cape ArgusAdrian Monteath
15
Sunday TimesBarry Ronge
10
International Media
Total Film (UK)Tom Dawson
10
Internet (IMDB)113 Netizens
16
Average .. 67%
13
Visitor Comments
Ian Douglas: China here delivers an object lesson to Hollywood in how to make a really realistic, gentle, innocent romantic comedy. None of this ''Hello'', ''Hello'', ''Let's go to bed.'' fantasy which Hollywood is trying to establish as the norm everywhere. The two lovers are keen and awkward at the same time, which leads to the comedy and the heartache. Along the way we get some interesting insights into Chinese life and culture. The fact that it has subtitles means that many people who would both enjoy it and identify with it, won't go to see it. That is a real pity.
