Love Conquers All
Posted by martinteller on February 18, 2009
This feature by Tan Chui Mui is much like her shorts, in tone and pacing. The message is very cynical, although the ending could be interpreted as either a message of hope or a prelude to more of the same. Your appreciation of the film depends on how much you’re willing to accept and sympathize with the main character’s major decision. I didn’t view her as naive so much as she was locked into her narrative doom. I think the emotional issues involved are more complex than they appear at first glance. The “lone palm tree” motif (you’ll understand if you see it) was a particularly clever touch. However, it could definitely be argued that the film could be half the length. Although most scenes add something, many of them are repetitive and/or unnecessary and/or too long. And this is coming from a Ming-liang Tsai fan. Rating: 7
