Release Date: 9 June 2005

Synopsis :

“Eros” is an anthology of three medium length films on the subject of eroticism and desire, from a trio of the world’s most outstanding directors, Wong Kar wai, Steven Soderbergh, and Michelangelo Antonioni. Each take his own unique approach to the theme: Wong with a richly textured and achingly emotional erotic tale; Soderbergh with a wry and perverse comedy; and Antonioni with his philosophical meditation on the abyss between men and women.

Wong Kar Wai’s “The Hand” is the story of a young tailor’s (Chang Chen) long-time unrequited love for a beautiful Hong Kong courtesan (Gong Li). Over many years, he lovingly crafts the clothes that she wears for other men. Over time, the seemingly unattainable fantasy woman loses everything, just as the tailor prospers in his career. Then the unexpected happens…

Steven Soderbergh’s “Equilibrium” is about a stressed-out 1950’s New-York advertising man (Robert Downey, Jr.) who has been suffering from a series of recurring erotic dreams. During his session with psychiatrist Dr. Pearl (Alan Arkin), he describes his dream of a woman who is familiar to him—but he can’t recall who she is when he wakes up. Through the course of a very offbeat session of therapy, we discover why that is.

Michelangelo Antonioni’s “The Dangerous Thread of Things” follows a fortyish married couple (Christopher Buchholz and Regina Nemni) that no longer have anything to say to one another. At an impasse, the man has a passionate one night stand with a free-spirited young girl (Luisa Ranieri), but this experience also fails to satisfy him. Later on, the wife and the girl meet….

“Eros” is a rare movie event—where three of the world’s most celebrated film artists contemplate the never-ending riddles of eroticism and love.

Movie Review:

Three directors, three stories and three executions. The movie started with The Hand by Wong Kar Wai, continued with Equilibrium by Steven Soderbergh and ended with The Dangerous Thread of Things by Michelangelo Antonioni. The movie moved from excellent to dreamy, and finally to incomprehensible.

Hand is a simple, but sad, love story. The tale evolved around two characters; a high and mighty courtesan and a humble apprentice tailor. This segment exuded Wong Kar Wai’s style; from the tight cheongsams, the dark walkways of the apartment and hotel, to the excellent accompanying
soundtrack, all in the right ratio, making The Hand the most enjoyable segment of the three. Gong Li delivered her usual excellent performance while Chang Chen gave an outstanding feat of a man tortured by his desire and love for the beyond reach beloved. What begun as a deliberate act of humiliation from the harlot ended with a different intention, to repay an everlasting love and kindness. The ending scene provoked tears with the powerful passion exhibited by Chang Chen. A love that could have born fruits if the man had been more proactive and the woman more realistic; a possible love had instead turned out to be a regret forever.

Steven Soderbergh played tricks on the audience; deliberating between the decision of telling a story about a dream or dreaming about a story. When the dream came to an end, the audience continued to stay at the borders of the black and white, and the colourful scenes, deciding for themselves which was the characters’ reel world. Robert Downey Jr. and Alan Arkin were fun to
watch; especially in the doctor and patient scene. While the audience tried to come to terms with the story and the switching of roles of authority, the story ended abruptly and left plenty to imagination. Though left frustrated, Equilibrium provoked thinking and required the audience to strike their own equilibrium.

The Dangerous Thread of Things played with excessive nudity whilst trying to infuse the artistic factor into the show, with no story to tell. The overwhelming nakedness did not help to explain or contribute to the understanding of the account. The dialogues came across as artificial and
forced; again did not bring insight to the unfathomable plot. Two women; one chose to live a life of serenity with so little focus in sex that her partner complained endlessly and the other masturbated herself before a love making session, prompting one to wonder why the need for sex? When the two women finally met at the beach, nymphomania seemed to be erupting but
thankfully, the movie ended before the nightmare starts again.

Overall, the first two segments make up for the third and pull the average up. With the exception of the third segment, it would be interesting to see each piece being developed into a full length feature.

Movie Rating: B

Review by W.Lee

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