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THE KNOT

 ABOUT THE MOVIE


Genre:
Romance/Drama
Starring: Chen Kun, Vivian Hsu, Li Bingbing, Chin Han, Yang Kuei Mei, Isabella Leong, Chang Gua Ah Leh, Zhu Yin
Director: Yin Li
Rating: PG
Year Made: 2006



TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

VCD Format (2 Discs)
Languages:
Mandarin
Subtitles: English & Chinese
Running Time: 1 hr 58 mins
Distributor: InnoForm Media

 

SYNOPSIS:  

Chen Qiushui, an army medic was sent to the war in Korea, leaving behind his beloved woman, Wang Biyun. In Korea, he met and eventually married a nurse Wang Jindi. Meanwhile, Biyun began her long wait for Qiushui's return. After waiting for 60 years, her unwavering love for Qiushui is still embedded deep in her heart. During a trip to Tibet, Biyun's adopted daughter discovered the whereabouts of Qiushui. From the pictures sent via the internet, Biyun witnessed the final journey of her love, Qiushui.

MOVIE REVIEW

A quick browse through the cast list of this Mainland Chinese production makes us wonder why it hadn’t garnered more attention in the region. There’s the lovely Vivian Hsu (The Shoe Fairy, One Last Dance) and Isabella Leong (Diary, Isabella), veteran actresses Gua Ah Lei (Eat Drink Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet) and Yang Kuei-Mei (Double Vision, The Wayward Cloud).

And there is Chin Han (Red Dust, Centre Stage), who is every auntie’s favourite on-screen hero. We are talking about the who-whos of Chinese cinema here.

This Yin Li-directed movie tells the tragic story of a pair of lovers who are kept from seeing each other, no thanks to opposing parents, changing times and the biggest obstacle of them all: war.

The plot isn’t terrible exciting or fresh, but the production values makes up for it – a lot.

Check out the sweeping music score by Zou Ye, the breathtaking cinematography by Wang Xiaole which brings us to the city lights in contemporary New York, the provincial town in old-time Fujian and the treacherous snowy mountains in Tibet. And this we are pleasantly surprised: there are realistic computer generated effects that bring a sense of awe to the entire picture.

It is a pity that we had to sit through this 118-minute movie presented on VCD, which makes the whole viewing experience somehow marred.

The cast puts in a whole-hearted performance, ranging from the earnest Chen Kun (Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Baober in Love) as the lovelorn doctor, to the nerdy but likeable Steven Cheung (A Chinese Tall Story, Twins Mission) as his competitor in love. There is also Li Bingbing (A World Without Thieves, Dragon Squad) as a talkative medic.

The Mandarin title of the movie romantically refers to the male and female protagonists’ names “tied together in a ballad”. That is enough to evoke the linguistic emotions of any romantic die-hard.

Those who enjoy classic big-setup movies chronicling love and loss will definitely enjoy this one, with the eye candy as a bonus

MOVIE RATING:

Review by John Li

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. The Host

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. The Banquet

. Hell

. Ghost Valentine

. My Name Is Fame

. Born To Fight

. Lizard Woman


. Letter

. Chai-Lai Angels

. Helen the Baby Fox

. Love Asia

. The Commitment

. The Story of X-Circle

. Beautiful, Wonderful, Perfect

. Hit Man

 

 


This review is made possible with the kind support from InnoForm


 


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