"Reality continues after miracles"

Dr. Storks S2 continued the stories of the doctors in the OB/Gyn and NICU departments at Persona Hospital. Miraculous stories of new life and stories of heartrending losses were shared. This time around there was also focus on the reality that faced many of the new mothers before and after the miracle of birth.

Dr. Konotori Sakura with his cheerful and uplifting personality still seeks to give mothers and their babies the best chance at success. Dr. Shinomiya Haruki is there to balance our Sakura’s optimism with a strong dose of if not pessimism, a harsher view of reality. Imahashi Takayuki remains the rock of labor and delivery as the head of the department and NICU. Komatsu Rumiko, the midwife, helps keep everyone grounded and focused on the mothers’ experiences and needs. The team confronts all sorts of crises for mothers and babies alike. There would also be movement in and out of the department as people seek to broaden their educations or return from other experiences.

For my review of S1 I lamented the lack of women doctors. The OB/Gyn profession is dominated by women in my country and around half of the neonatal docs are female as well. Then I read this, “In 2018, Tokyo Medical University admitted to manipulating women applicants’ entrance exam scores for years to restrict the number of female doctors, in part because they were performing better than male applicants.” * The previous statement helped explain the dearth of women in the profession. It might also explain why the women were either portrayed as overly emotional or with almost no emotion and why one of the doctors was worried if she became pregnant she couldn’t continue to work as a physician. With all the public service announcements they had in the drama, it would have been nice to have shown competent and emotionally stable women physicians. Also, NICU nurses are the unsung heroes in that department and they were an almost invisible presence in the drama with the doctors doing all the work. Rant over.

I did like the holistic approach they had toward prenatal care and labor. The support a couple with a stillborn child had from the staff was particularly moving. The midwife, Komatsu, pushed the need for more maternal services before and after the birth. This season brought up the demand for support for postpartum depression, birth defects, and multiple miscarriages. Another topic of interest presented remote places with limited medical facilities. Women carried a great burden along with their babies if doctors were too far away. Without babies, remote places’ futures came into question.

If S1 was about the miracle of life and birth, S2 dealt with the reality of life of not only birth, but after the baby was taken home. Much emphasis was also put on teamwork both with the doctors and patients. Doctors and new parents need emotional support and also support in order to become better at what they do. While I enjoyed S2, I didn’t find it as compelling as S1.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

27 June 2024

*https://geographical.co.uk/culture/countries-with-the-most-female-doctors

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"You wait"

The Recipe began with a transformative bowl of stew and then worked its way backwards to the origin of the enthralling recipe. There were slow moments where the film tended to get lost in the weeds of the intricacies of making Doenjang Jjigae, but all was forgiven as the investigation finally revealed the truth.

After his execution, Kim Jong Gu’s last request sets investigative reporter Choi Yoo Jin on his tireless quest to discover what kind of stew would be the murderer’s last thoughts. As Choi digs into the story he ascertains that the stew was so fragrant and delicious that Kim never felt the cuffs being put on. In fact, the officers were frozen at the tantalizing smell. In his efforts to track down the woman who made the doenjang, he meets one by one all the people who helped with the extensive steps she took to make the magic happen. Choi’s boss isn’t enraptured with the tale but that doesn’t stop the intrepid reporter until at last he learns how love and tears contributed to the story.

While I enjoy recipe detective work, the fine details of each step of the process often bogged the film down. If you are watching for Lee Dong Wook, you may be disappointed. He doesn’t show up until over an hour into the film. This was largely Ry Seung Ryong’s film as Choi Yoo Jin. The veteran actor showed Choi going from cynical to obsessed over the effects the stew had on people and the extraordinary details that went into it. Finally, his journey would lead him to the tragic love which inspired Jang Hye Jin’s recipe.

Anna Lee (Lee Suh Goon) directed and co-wrote this film. Her painstaking attention to food and ingredients and all the people whose hands touched the different elements was intriguing. In the same way Hye Jin had to wait on her soybean paste to ferment, this film will make you wait for the emotional payoff. Ultimately, the conclusion I came to was one any child or grandchild knows instinctively, food made with love and loving attention is the best.

17 June 2024

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"Try what you can, then you'll find what you like"

The Moon Has Risen was a charming, sweetly funny film written by Ozu Yasujiro and directed by prolific actress Tanaka Kinuyo. A father living with his three daughters, all of marriage age, would have to brace himself as the matchmaking and romancing were about to escalate with the full moons.

Asai Mokichi lives in Nara with his three daughters. He has a hands-off approach with their love lives, letting his daughters do as they will. Chizu is the eldest daughter and a widow. She is traditional and loves caring for the family and her father. Ayako, the second daughter, is quietly shy, and falls somewhere between modern and traditional. Much to her consternation, her aunt is always trying to set her up with marriages she has no interest in. Setsuko, the youngest at 21, is effusive and effervescent. She is close friends with Shoji, a man who is currently living on the premises and unemployed. Shoji’s friend, Amamiya, visits for a while during a business trip. Setsuko and Shoji join forces to matchmake for Ayako and Amamiya when they see how much the two care for each other. The course of true love never runs smoothly, and that goes for Setsuko and Shoji as well!

Many Ozu story elements were to be found. A widowed father, played by Ozu regular Ryu Chishu, had daughters of marriage age. This time though, no one was overly worried about the father being left alone. Chizu enjoyed caring for her father, but even she may have had a love match. No older male friends were called in to help find potential mates, the sisters took care of their own futures. And each other. I loved the sisters’ relationships with each other. I worried that I might find Setsuko annoying as she attempted to bring Ayako and Amamiya together, but after the first few scenes, I found her to be a fun character and appealing. Watching the relationship grow between Setsuko and the aimless Shoji was compelling as well.

This was Tanaka Kinuyo’s second directorial effort and I thoroughly enjoyed how she framed shots. It might have been an Ozu script but she didn’t stay cemented to shooting from the mat as he did. Nor were there the head on conversations directly to the camera and overly controlled acting. Her characters moved fluidly and gracefully. She used beautiful outdoor scenes, tranquil temple locations, and gorgeously composed rooms to great effect. The characters were more tactile and looser than in an Ozu film. The family even had a pet dog! The humor was gentle and felt authentic to the story. I found Tanaka’s style of directing very relaxing.

The Moon Has Risen was an endearing film about three sisters as they carved out futures for themselves and when they faltered there was always a sister around to give destiny a little push in the right direction. Tanaka Kinuyo tied everything together with her own method of directing and extracted excellent performances from the actors. Only the second Japanese woman at the time to direct a feature film, she proved herself well. Oh, and Mizoguchi Kenji, you were wrong, she had plenty of brains to direct.

16 June 2024

*Mizoguchi was against Tanaka directing, stating, she “does not have enough brains to be a film director.”

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11:55 PM was a creepy short film that will resonate with a lot of women who live alone. Based on a Korean urban legend with one part of it stirring my memory of an urban legend from my own culture.

A young woman is heading home late at night. When she arrives at the parking garage at her apartment complex her boss calls. She needs to redo her work and have it done by midnight. Put out at the late night order, she accidentally leaves her phone in the car. That’s when things go from bad to worse.

Director Oh In Chun showed how isolated a person can be and feel when threatened. And also how the brain and body can freeze from fear. I don’t know the name of the actress but she accurately portrayed the initial irritation a person would feel at an annoying person disturbing her work and quiet late at night. As the realization of her predicament slowly sank in her face and actions grew more frightened.

If you’ve ever been face to face with a fight or flight scenario when neither response is a viable option, you’ll recognize the terror inherent in the situation. For long time horror fans this will likely feel tame. As for me, I’ll double-check my locks tonight and make sure my phone is charged.

9 June 2024
Spoiler hint for the urban legend below
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From what I read (@cocomila on YT), the symbol drawn on the door means Beta---
Alpha: empty home
Beta: female home
X= saw the inhabitant (usually female) alone or about to rob

And people from my country know the punchline from the story kids tell each other to scare themselves,
“The call is coming from inside the house!”

Definitely going to re-check those locks now!

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"The more secrets you know, the sooner you will die"

Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Inn was a weirdly addictive drama despite uneven storytelling and even more uneven acting. If you are looking for a drama centered around the famous Dragon Gate Inn, look elsewhere. This inn might as well have been named the Flamingo Palm Tree Inn as little as the mythology of the inn played into the story. If, like me, you see where Nie Yuan is listed as a main character, prepare to be disappointed. His Zhao Huai An was a supporting character who occasionally lent emotional and martial arts support. This was primarily a palace drama and a case of missing royal twins who grew up to be the princess and crown prince. The only trouble was, only one person knew how to identify them and he wasn’t talking.

There will be slight spoilers from the first few episodes in the next *two paragraphs* to follow because the synopsis is not what this drama is about, if you want to avoid them, please skip down to general comments:

*The emperor’s consort Lady Lan bears him twins while he is away. The jealous empress manages to steal the girl baby while Dr. Feng quickly takes the boy child and gives him to General Yu who hands the baby off to Zhao for safe keeping. The eunuch and close ally to the empress, Wan Yu Lou, accidentally kills Lady Lan. The emperor returns to find Lady Lan dead and only a deformed daughter that he orders to be killed. Wan and the empress work to cover up their vile deeds with Wan agreeing to secretly adopt the baby princess. The two are determined to find the missing crown prince as well.

*Twenty years later Hu Zhong Yu is one of Zhao’s disciples, though Zhao isn’t around much. Hu also vowed to protect the young master of the Ma clan, Ma Tian You. When the Wanma Hall is destroyed and the young master goes missing Hu goes in search of him. During this time, he rebuilds the Dragon Gate Inn with the help of the Xia princess Bu Lu Du and tomb raider Gu Shao Tang. Later, Hu sees Tian You entering the palace grounds and follows him. Dressed as a eunuch Hu ends up serving the Western Depot under You Jia and his second in command Yu Hua Tian, a no-nonsense warrior who unknowingly to You is one of the adopted daughters of the evil Eastern Depot commander, Wan Yu Lou. Hu and Yu find themselves going from adversaries to allies as they struggle to survive the dangerous politics of the palace driven by an incompetent emperor and a treacherous Eunuch Wan.

This drama focused on the relationship between Hu Zhong Yu and Yu Hua Tian. The two actors had a nice chemistry together and were fun to watch. The other dominant stories involved Wan and his “daughters” and how he used them to gain power and advantages over his enemies. Zhou Huai An and Jin Xian Gyu showed up to guide the patriotic rebels against Wan and to give sage advice. Two of the most annoying characters to ever set foot in Dramaland were the princess Bu Lu Du and tomb raider Gu Shao Tang. They bickered non-stop and fought over Zhong Yu for 38 ½ episodes. They were childish and downright dangerous to have as allies. With the exception of Yu and Jin as the drama progressed, most of the female characters were not shown in a positive light. Thankfully, Yu, for the most part, was a thoroughly competent warrior and character. She protected those she loved and was unafraid to stand up to evil. On a side note, I was happy to see old kung fu movie star, David Chiang, in the role of Dr. Feng.

While there were scenes at the Dragon Gate Inn, they were few and far between. Most of the action took place at the palace. The “Who’s your daddy?” storylines gave a slightly different angle to the usual fight for the throne trope. It also changed relationship dynamics when people thought they knew who the royal children were and caused heartache as well. The censors could be felt when characters awkwardly declared that love was only between a man and a woman. This sentiment was largely overshadowed as one of Wan’s daughters deeply loved Yu thinking Yu was a male eunuch. Hu fell in love with Yu thinking the same thing. Both still loved Yu when “he” was revealed to be a woman. Love was love regardless of gender which felt like a bold step for a Cdrama. Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Inn could be campy and fun, dark and emotional, with terribly uneven acting and annoying characters, but it was also hard to stop watching.

27 May 2024

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Treeless Mountain was a poignant story about two little girls who were abandoned with relatives and seen through their innocent eyes. This was a spare, melancholy slice of life with little music or dialogue as the sisters learned to navigate their everchanging world.

Grade schooler Jin and her little sister Bin are dropped off at their paternal aunt’s house when their mother goes in search of their missing deadbeat father. As the mother leaves, she hands Jin a red piggy bank and tells her when it is full of coins they earn for doing chores for their aunt, she’ll return. Their aunt who doesn’t work and drinks too much soju does the bare minimum for them and sometimes not even that. The girls often find themselves alone and fending for themselves or asking a neighbor for food. Jin, who was a good student, is no longer enrolled in school. Despite their circumstances the girls stick together and look for ways to earn money to fill their piggybank.

This film eschewed dramatic music for natural sounds or the girls singing. The young actresses gave beautifully genuine, unpretentious performances. They carried the weight of the movie on their tiny shoulders as the story was seen through their eyes. It was agonizing watching Jin slowly piece together the reality of her life after the harsh realization of their situation hit her. Each emotional blow would rock her and she would slowly absorb the new information and try again. Kim Hee Yeon’s eyes told the depth of Jin’s pain. Though the girls were shuttled about, they stayed together and never gave into despair, always making the best of their lives.

Treeless Mountain demonstrated how vulnerable children are and how resilient they can be when they shouldn’t have to be. There were moments that were genuinely heartbreaking as Jin came to realize that adults lie and had let her down repeatedly and others that were filled with hope when she offered all she had to someone in need. This film will cause you to want to show great kindness to any children in your life-to cuddle them and fill their bellies with warm food and shelter them from all danger. Not every child has that security, some sisters live on a treeless mountain with only each other to truly depend on. While this slow meditation on the perils of childhood may not be for everyone, I found it to be deeply moving.

21 May 2024

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"Don't criticize other people's customs and don't criticize their kimchi!"

Heo Young Man, Ryu Soo Young, and Mimi traveled the country trying and discovering new takes on kimchi and relishing the traditional ways of making it on A Nation of Kimchi.

Like the other K Food Shows, our adventurous hosts embraced their roles as food guides whole-heartedly. They demonstrated how “Kimchi shows Korea’s history, culture, and lifestyle.” Nothing else embodies Korea quite as much. Archaeologists have discovered the making of kimchi dating back as far as the Three Kingdom Era (220-280 C.E.). The oldest mention in writing goes back to a poem in 918 C.E. Since that time Koreans have experimented using different plants, seafoods, and spices. The introduction of chili peppers during the Joseon era caused an explosion of new taste sensations and the familiar red color known today.

Seasonal and regional ingredients and differences were examined. “Don’t criticize other people’s customs and don’t criticize their kimchi.” The crew visited restaurants, food stalls, and two temples. At the first temple the head monk used lotus flowers to make kimchi dishes into stunning artwork. At the second temple, the community gathered yearly to pick the vegetables and make the kimchi to be served there.

If kimchi is the heart of Korea, women make that heart pulse. In all the scenes of kimchi being made throughout the country, it was the women working together to lovingly produce it. When Ryu helped out, he was the only man among tables of women massaging the red filling into the cabbage leaves. Heo made the statement, “There are as many kinds of kimchi as there are mothers in the world.” These women might adhere to family traditions, but many of them pushed the boundaries, willing to experiment with new ingredients and combinations. “Gimjang”, the community making of kimchi, has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Whether served with wine or makgeolli, used as a side dish or main dish, in traditional combinations or new imaginative ways, the hosts enthusiastically tried them all. I enjoyed learning more about the history and making of kimchi as well as the nearly endless ways of serving it by people who demonstrated a deep love and appreciation for the national culinary treasure.

20 May 2024

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"Goryeo is more resilient than we thought"

I had been looking forward to watching the historical Korea-Khitan War as it wasn’t a fantasy or focused on the romantic involvements of the king or other characters. I ended up having mixed reactions to the varied approaches to history and the different levels of acting abilities.

Goryeo was dealing with its larger and more aggressive neighbor, the Liao Empire run by the Khitans. There had already been one invasion by the Khitans which had been repelled but led to concessions on both sides. After a coup, Gang Jo has the teenager Hyun Jong coronated king. The Khitans use the coup as justification for another invasion and for the people of Goryeo and their new king it won’t be the last.

When the drama focused on the historical events of the invasions, I found it quite compelling. This small country stood its ground and used every trick and resource it could to repel the invaders. I became deeply invested in characters like Kang Kam Chan, Yang Kyu, Kim Sook Heung, Ji Chae Mun, and even the Khitan general Xiao Pai Ya. Goryeo not only dealt with the enemy across the border but the enemy within, as traitors opened their gates to the invaders or planned to cooperate with the Khitans. After the Khitans were successfully repelled the second time, the drama lapsed into internal conflicts for around 14 episodes that apparently were not based in historical evidence which I found disappointing. When they once again faced the Khitans, more prepared for their familiar enemy, the drama picked back up for me.

The battle scenes required an understanding that with a limited budget, armies of over 100,000 troops were going to be represented by two dozen people. Battle fields that should have been hip deep in bodies and blood were suddenly washed clean with no one there. For the most part when they showed the fighting up close and the stakes involved it was easier to buy in. The battle at Heunghwajin was done quite well. I was hoping to see the damming of the river battle in the third invasion, but that was likely beyond their budget.

Some of the acting was quite good. Choi Soo Jong as the rigid and canny Kang Kam Chan gave a brilliant performance. Ji Seung Hyun as Yang Kyu was quite believable as the determined warrior who could adapt and improvise on the battlefield. The deep voiced Kim Tae Han as Xiao Pai Ya provided the perfect foil for Kang Kam Chan. There were some limited performances by many other characters that often pulled me out of the moment. The drama focused much of its attention on the saintly, emotional king, but I found him to be one of the least interesting characters and performances. The amateurish camera pans of obvious reaction shots of people being wide-eyed, open-mouthed shocked in the court were overused. The villains, Emperor Shengzong of Liao and Park Jin of Chungju, were overacted and did everything but twirl their mustaches to let you know how evil they were.

When Korea-Khitan War focused on the war, it was engrossing to see how the Goryeo army was going to outfox and outfight the larger armies of the Khitans. When it lapsed into endless political jockeying and arguments, focusing on less compelling characters and actors, it lost some steam and historical integrity.

20 May 2024

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"This is personal" Well, of course it is...

Triple Threat had an embarrassment of martial artists riches and also embarrassingly bad dialogue, even for an action movie. The martial arts were also short shrifted in lieu of guns and things that go boom far too often.

Payu and Long Fei have been hired to help with a “humanitarian” mission that turns out to be anything but. Local security for the site, Jaka, loses his wife in the deadly firefight that erupts when the mercenaries enter the village to release Collins, a notorious terrorist. Payu, Long Fei, and Jaka develop a tenuous partnership to bring down the mercs and end up protecting a Chinese heiress/local philanthropist along the way.

The firefights were often over the top as the bad guys mowed down people throughout the small country of Maha Jaya. Things were always more interesting when the guns were down and the fists and kicks were up. Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and Tiger Chen all have experience with fighting on screen and choreography. The weakest of the three was Tiger as his fights often looked slow and uninspired. Tony and Iko were far more entertaining as they defied gravity with their flexibility, quickness, and strength. Bad guy, Scott Adkins, was able to keep up with the kicks as was Michael Jai White. Jeeja Yanin had what amounted to a glorified guest role and didn’t have many chances to show her skills.

The action came fast and furious with the fighters and heiress on the run. Unfortunately, some of the acting and much of the dialogue was painfully cringeworthy. Not much effort was made to create a cohesive story either. As a check your brain at the door, let’s watch Tony Jaa fly and flip, it was rudimentary martial arts action entertainment.

15 May 2024

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"Impossibilities are what make this world interesting"

The Sealer was a short drama involving a secret organization that seals blades filled with “filth” such as malice and hatred and causes the humans wielding them to disappear. A reporter who can see the evil black haze emitted from the demons and swords becomes involved with the group and aids in needed research to help one of their own.

The premise of the story was interesting if dark. Anyone dealing with anger or other strong emotions could become a victim of the sword and then be turned into mindless killers, even good people. The Sealers absorbed the “filth” from Blades of Filth until they could no longer contain that “filth”, then they were eliminated lest they become demonic as well. Not a great retirement plan or selling point for new candidates. Over the centuries, no one figured out how to resolve some of the more problematic issues. Karen, the maker of the scabbards that sealed the evil blades, believed that scabbards could be made that would save the humans attached to the blades and grant them the ability to atone for their deeds instead of disappearing. The blades were similar to Mordor blades, wounds caused by them would never heal.

Most of the characters were flatly drawn and acted. The characters wore basically the same clothes throughout the episodes. Sanjo, the overly earnest reporter, needed a pair of trainers as many times as she fell down and couldn’t get back up. In fact, characters falling down and being unable to stand afterwards was a common theme. I counted at least nine times it happened, as if they were all part turtle with no way to get up once down.

The Sealer was entertaining for a short drama, but being so short often left the characters underdeveloped as well as the story. There were times characters just stood around and watched what was happening with little to do. Many of the action scenes felt redundant, yet the stakes were high. For the most part The Sealer kept my attention except when I wasn’t wondering what evil spell caused people to freeze on the floor instead of attempting to escape a sword wielding demon.

6 May 2024

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"A man is not a human being without mercy"

Sansho the Bailiff had little to do with the title character and everything to do with two noble children sold into slavery to him. A family torn apart never let the dream die of being reunited one day. They would all have to decide if they should continue doing the right thing when good things happened to bad people and bad things happened to good people.

A governor who refuses to let the military conscript and further tax his people who have experienced famine for 13 years is stripped of his title and exiled. Before he leaves, he tells his son to remember that “A man is not a human being without mercy…Everyone is entitled to their happiness.” He gives Zushio the treasured family statuette of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy to keep with him. His wife Tamaki and the two young children stay for a time with her brother and then determine to make the long trek in search of the father. Along the way they are betrayed in an area rife with bandits and slave dealers. Tamaki is sold into prostitution on a distant island and the children are sold into slavery to Sansho the Bailiff. Sansho is a cruel slave owner who keeps his slaves in a walled compound. Any attempt at escape results in a branding on the forehead. Sansho’s son, Taro, is kind to the children and tells them to endure until they are old enough to escape and make the difficult journey to their father. He then leaves the compound, never to return. As the children age, Anju adheres to her father’s words of wisdom while Zushio abandons them and in a twist of fate becomes the cruel "son" Taro could never be.

Calling out injustice was a familiar theme for Mizoguchi. In this film, the barbarism of forced labor camps was brought forth. More than once, the suffering of the common people was dismissed as unimportant by the affluent leaders. Much as his sister in real life had been, Tamaki was sold into prostitution. Despite the longing and despair of the characters, the scenery was amazing. Cinematographer Miyagawa Kazuo brought great beauty to the black and white film with stunning outdoor shots. Mizoguchi used water in several scenes—a lake and the ocean providing two of the more powerful moments in the film. Sansho’s slave encampment was claustrophobic and filthy, dark with hopelessness hanging over the weary people.

Sansho the Bailiff was based on a 1915 short story which was based on an old folk tale. What is curious about the title of the film was that Sansho was the villain and appeared far less than Zushio and Anju who were sold into slavery to him. Instead of Sansho’s story this was the boy Zushio’s as he grew into manhood. The mother and children were given different names along their journeys of suffering and as they sought to hold onto and rediscover their identities. Zushio’s growth and quest to reunite his family was the narrative backbone to the film. And if his growth was the backbone, Anju’s and Tamaki’s loving persistence was the life-giving blood of the film. Both women had deeply poignant scenes that will linger in my mind. Anju had a devastating scene that far from being melodramatic was like ripples through time that would affect other characters’ lives. And like those ripples the good done by the family members spread ever outward even when the family paid the cost. Sansho the Bailiff juxtaposed man’s cruelty and ability to be merciful, an ongoing battle even now as humankind decides who they want to be when they grow up.

15 April 2024

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"Compared to the cosmos, how tiny we are!"

Two people dancing around a relationship struggle to understand each other’s feelings and even their own as the clock ticks down to the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in Love in a Fallen City. Chow Yun Fat was sizzling as the westernized playboy who takes an interest in Cora Miao’s solemn divorcee.

Pai Liu Su is being pressured to attend the funeral of her ex-husband. She’s been living with her family the last 7 years ever since she walked away after the brute had beaten her. In an explosion of words, her family tells her what a burden she’s been and how she never should have gone through with the divorce. All this despite the fact her brother lost her fortune in bad investments. Mrs. Hsu, a family friend, takes Pai and her younger sister to meet a couple of eligible men. Pai and Fan Liu Yuen hit it off before he leaves for Hong Kong. Mrs. Hsu invites Pai to accompany her to Hong Kong and stay as her guest. Pai and Fan grow closer as they spend time together, yet neither is sure of the other’s motives. Pai fears she will be just another notch in Fan’s belt and Fan fears Pai is only using him to get of out of her toxic household. Will the coming invasion drive them further apart or into each other’s arms?

“Life, death, and parting are immense things beyond our control.”
Chow Yun Fat brought the heat as he wooed the introverted Pai. I’d seen him in a number of action movies but here he turned on the charm and romance. It was hard to understand what Fan saw in Pai who appeared sullen most of the time. He seemed to enjoy the fact she was traditional, though untraditional enough to divorce and also to spend time with him.

“Laws can change from day to day, but morals and ethics, kinship and family, these things don’t change”
I’ve seen my share of Shaw Brothers kung fu movies filmed on their studio lots and with familiar exterior shots so it was a pleasant surprise to see the care and creativity allowed in this film. Hong Kong was explored and many scenes were filmed at the Old Repulse Bay Hotel. I was also pleasantly surprised to see so many women involved in the making of this film. Ann Hui was the director, it was produced by Mona Fong, and based on Eileen Chang’s novella. Violet Lam won the Best Original Film Score at the HKFA for her work.

“If everything should burn down, blow up, collapse, perhaps this wall will be left.”
I was confused by the timing of the story. The story took place from 1939-1941 approximately. My knowledge of Chinese history is minimal at best so my concerns may be over nothing. The Japanese occupied Shanghai by 1937 where the story began and there was no mention of their presence there in this film.

“Life’s never over for the poor.”
Despite Pai’s consistently somber attitude and the impending war, the movie never devolved into melodrama. Pai and Fan gradually worked their way through the problems hurled their way. The film clocked in around 90 minutes, short enough for the story to not become too maudlin and long enough to fall in love with Chow Yun Fat’s Fan Liu Yuen.

12 April 2024

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"Your life is more meaningful when you are willing to face yourself'

The Heroic Trio was a weirdly, wildly, stylized superhero movie starring three of the most beautiful women in Hong Kong films at the time. Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, and Anita Mui were caught up in an evil eunuch’s plan to steal babies and install one of them as the new emperor of China. This film had a Saturday morning superhero television show quality to it, if that show had cannibalism, decapitations, and dead babies and children.

Tung is married to Inspector Lau. Little does her husband know that she is the much admired hero, Wonder Woman. When babies are being kidnapped with no ransom notes the duo springs into action in their own ways. Chat, The Thief Catcher, rolls in on her motorcycle armed with a pump shotgun and dynamite and saves the day when she rescues hostages at a chemical warehouse. A superhero for hire, she gives her card to the police chief whose new baby has been targeted. Ching, The Invisible Woman, works for the merciless and powerful eunuch who lives in an enormous fortress in the sewers. The eunuch believes that, “China cannot be without an emperor.” And by that he means an emperor he controls so that he would be the de facto ruler. By day Ching lives with The Professor who invented the Invisible cloak so that when it is perfected, she can steal it and kill him. She may not get the chance as the invisibility process is deadly toxic. The three women warriors collide as the kidnappings become more complicated and deadly. The eunuch’s superpowered minion, Kau, brings danger and loss of body parts whenever he appears.

This movie was off the rails bonkers and not for the faint of heart. In Western films, killing and torturing children is right up there with killing pets, it’s rarely done, or at least not done onscreen so the cruelty toward children was quite disturbing for me. The Flying Guillotine survived the ages from the 1975 movie and made a cameo here. There were also a variety of throwing weapons, explosives, razor bladed chains, and poison darts used. The women’s most powerful weapons were the humanity and sisterhood that had almost been trained out of them. Only through their combined powers could they take down the maniacal eunuch. Many of the actions scenes were filmed in low lighting as the characters climbed, leapt, and fell repeatedly. Despite the darkness, the wires showed at times, at other times the train broke through the fourth wall. While exploring the superhero genre, the film kept its feet firmly flying in Hong Kong wuxia history as well.

What was the draw to this absurd superhero movie? The cast! Michelle Yeoh was gorgeous with her flowing hair and impeccable timing, completely believable as the conflicted anti-hero. Ching had the most painful character growth spurred by her inconvenient love for the professor. It would take Chat and Tung to give her a reason to live and break free from the eunuch’s hold. Maggie Cheung went from cocky bounty hunter to the vulnerable middle child caught between two sisters she loved. Anita Mui alternated as the devoted wife and ferocious heroine who was the moral compass of the trio. The three women each had tortuous pasts that they had to come to terms with in order to move forward.

The Heroic Trio was not a great movie but it was entertaining. At times it veered into so bad it was good, especially near the end with an unhinged final fight. Regardless of the movie's shortcomings, it's always refreshing to have competent women warriors and superheroes even if the movie didn’t always serve them well. For fans of these actresses, if you can keep your expectations low, it’s definitely one to give a try.

10 April 2024

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"What comes after?"

That Day on the Beach opens with two women connecting after thirteen years. This film is not about their friendship for the most part, it primarily focuses on Jia Li’s choices and desire for her elusive happiness. The story is decidedly not linear, more circular, as director Edward Yang examined dysfunctional families, work places, and marriages.

Tan Wei Ching, a celebrated pianist, made her first trip home to Taiwan after 13 years. She received a message from an old classmate and at the last minute decided to meet her for coffee. The classmate, Jia Li, is the sister of the boy she loved long ago. When Jia Sen was forced to marry someone else, Wei Ching cut ties with Jia Li and took a scholarship to study abroad. After the loss of her friend, Jia Li began dating Cheng De Wei. She discovered her father made a marriage pact for her, too. Watching the silent, sullen dinners with Jia Sen and his new wife convinced her she did not want that fate. She packed up and left that night. She and De Wei married soon after. De Wei’s old friend was shoring up his position at the company he worked for by hiring old friends and recruited De Wei. Soon the young couple bore the strain of the long days and nights De Wei was required to work and party.

I began this film thinking it was about two friends reconnecting. Around the 20-minute mark of this 165 minute film, Tan Wei Ching was all but forgotten. She’s the friend that got roped into someone’s life story when she asked, “Are you married?” That Day on the Beach also tries to lure the viewer in with police searching a beach during the movie’s introduction, making it seem this element would be ultimately pertinent to the story. Everything was window dressing and red herrings until the story of the excruciatingly slow and painful dissolution of Jia Li’s marriage began. With all of the flashbacks and flashbacks within flashbacks, I’m not entirely sure how long the agony went on for her, somewhere around 7 years. Honestly, it seemed longer. During this time, it was a constant back and forth of two people unable to communicate or come up with a better plan who kept thinking if they both said, “You don’t understand me,” enough, it would make a difference.

Jia Li was looking for love and happiness, thinking that marriage would bring it. It was not what she expected. De Wei was working at a job that required him to drink and socialize which he hated. Jia Li was naïve and De Wei was cowardly and both were completely disillusioned with their marriage. Li’s brother was miserable. Her mother had come to terms with her own flawed husband. Tan Wei Ching still missed the boy she’d loved. Everyone was unhappy and unfulfilled except for possibly the two most cynical characters. A predatory businesswoman and De Wei’s playboy boss seemed to be doing fine using the people around them for financial gain and pleasure. “The world I grew up in taught me that it’s a world without love. Perhaps you will find a moment or two of passion, but that’s not much.” The big mystery, regardless of outcome, was the result of a man willing to chew off his own arm to escape, but not the courage to confront the problem.

That Day on the Beach was a creative approach at displaying the costs of complex relationships, traditions, and toxic work environments. I was grateful that Jia Sen gave Li a piece of advice that helped her finally, after 13 years and 160 minutes, have some substantial character growth. If you are a fan of Edward Yang and long family dramas that tend to be caught up in a cycle of pain and dysfunction, this is one to try.

9 April 2024

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"What matters is your heart"

While Lao Tzu may have stated that the journey of a thousand miles/km begins with one step, he never imagined how the pilgrims in this film would experience that 1200 km journey. Prostrating themselves every 8 steps, the men, women, and child, traversed mountains in the bitter cold and blasting heat as they traveled for months to the holy mountain. Paths of the Soul was a deeply meditative experience in people acting out their faith in an arduous manner, never complaining and never faltering in their spiritual quest.

In a remote Tibetan village five men and four women decide to make the physically demanding pilgrimage to the holy mountain at Lhasa. The idea came from an old man who had never left the village. His brother died before performing the pilgrimage and he is determined to go. A pregnant woman wants her baby to be blessed by being born on the pilgrimage. An alcoholic butcher desires to pay for his sins by going. Two brothers want to honor the two laborers who died while building their house. And a little girl who will have no one to provide for her at home joins the group. One volunteer drives the tractor that pulls their tents and supplies as a priest leads the way. The pilgrims wear heavy animal skin aprons to protect their bodies and clothes when they slide forward on the ground and wooden planks on their hands. They chant, clap, and prostrate themselves, forehead to ground, get up and do it all over again in 8 steps or so for approximately 1,574,400 steps.

The film was shot documentary style and felt very much like one. Instead of focusing on the different sojourners as individuals, they remained a coherent group for the most part. Tsring had the spotlight for a moment when she went into labor but it was shot somewhat dispassionately and she was soon back on the road with the others, her baby swaddled among the tents. Regardless of the challenges the villagers faced, they never whined and rarely complained. If someone was injured or had a baby they waited. Shoes wore out and were replaced by inexpensive ones. When the tractor had mechanical trouble, they dealt with it. The miracle was not completing the arduous journey, it was a dozen people staying focused on their prayers and goals and not dissolving into petty squabbles when they faced exhaustion and challenges. They truly displayed a holy persistence and willingness to overcome obstacles.

Hospitality and generosity flowed on the road both from locals and the devotees. When a farmer offered them shelter and food, they returned his kindness. A cup of tea gifted on the side of the road was enough to bolster bodies and spirits. When they ran out of money, they simply found whatever job was available without grumbling. Back home people cared for their homes, families, and herds for the months they were gone. Watching the villagers walk and prostrate themselves never became old. At times they appeared as only specks of dust on the horizon. The scenery and seasons changed as they traveled from snow covered mountains to verdant valleys, showcasing the beauty of Tibet with excellent cinematography work. There was no musical score except for the chants and singing of the fellowship. One evening they sang and danced on lush green grass next to a river, another time they sang as they pushed the broken carriage up the mountain. And every night in the tent they would talk, sometimes laughingly about the bumps on their foreheads, and finish the day with prayers. Then in the morning they would face the seemingly endless winding road before them and begin their chants and bows all over.

The pilgrims dealt with rockslides, water covered roads, mud, and extreme weather on their sacred journey as they prayed for the safety and happiness for all. They were a determined band of people who were a deeply committed community. More than that, they were family. While the journey of 1200 km was grueling physically and mentally the overwhelming feeling of watching these people was one of peace.

8 April 2024

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