By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Ye Lou
Starring: Hua Zhongkai | Jia Hongshen | Zhou Xun
Original language title: Su Zhou he
Country: china, germany
Year: 2001
Running time: 83
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0234837
Laura says: “SUZHOU RIVER questions identity and reality within the confines of a harsh environment. It’s tough, edgy, jaded and romantic. Lou Ye’s accomplished a lot with very little.” 3 1/2 cats
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/suzhouriver.htm”
Michael says: “This was an interesting little movie that kind of got in my head and swam around in there… it’s still swimming now. Told with a unique narrative device, SUZHOU RIVER is a love story. Mardar is a courier for a boss with shady dealings. One of his jobs calls for him to befriend a young woman named Moudan. Their relationship deepens, despite the fact that Mardar should not get involved. Things go wrong, Moudan disappears and Mardar goes to jail for a few years. When he returns, he finds MeiMei, a young woman who looks exactly like Moudan. Like VERTIGO with its obsession and double identities, except Mardar gets more likeable the more obsessed he becomes. Xun Zhou, who plays the dual roles of Moudan and MeiMei is quite good, and the use of the river makes for a nice metaphor. The story is nicely wrapped up right at the end… although I have an alternate ending that I would have liked seeing.” 3 1/2 cats