MovieChat Forums > Wo de fu qin mu qin (2001) Discussion > Why do so many people like this film?

Why do so many people like this film?

posted 17 years ago by trpnallday
28 replies | jump to latest

I would honestly like to know why so many people love this film. I would not say it was horrible and I did like some scenes. I also felt that Zhang Ziyi did a good job (although not as great a job as she did in 2046). I was, however, terribly put off by the awkardness of the filming/editing and the lack of explanation as well as the complete absence of an ending. Given these major flaws I would give it a 5 out of 10 but it won a lot of presigious awards so I wonder what people saw in it that allowed them to look past such glaring flaws??

[–] cengelm 17 years ago

Your perception seems to be lacking. There was an ending and it was actually pretty long compared with the rest of the film.

[–] norrin__radd 17 years ago

to answer your question, Zhang Yimou is one of the finest visual storytellers making movies today, everything looks beautiful.. but to put it simply, IMHO, it's just reminded me, more than any other film how it feels to fall in love for the very first time... and that can't be a bad thing :-)

[–] djames42 16 years ago

I'd argue that he *was* one of the finest storytellers but has really lost his way over the last several years. Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and Curse of the Golden Flower were all movies that had tremendous potential but were completely lost due to the ludicrous, over-the-top scenes that have become all too common with several of China's biggest directors these days (The Promise and to some extent, The Banquet fell into this trap as well).

I loved The Road Home because it was a simple yet beautiful tale of love. Pure, innocent love.

[–] norrin__radd 16 years ago

Hi djames42
I recently re-watched HoFD, CotGF and Hero and I think they all share the same qualities as the directors earlier work. I know they are more commercial, I would put that down to the nature of the subject matter, since CTHD came along western audiances have been more interrested in wire-fu films not to mention Ziyi Zhang.

I still believe the tales in the kung-fu trilogy are as innocent as 'not one less' or 'the road home' and that Yimou still manages to get the very best from his actors and make beautiful, original films in an increasingly commercial market.

I'd say Hero looked far more staged and MTV-ish than the others but as with all Yimou films, it's still like watching a poem

_____________________________________________
The only reason you stay here is so you can f my mother and eat her food M-F FOOD EATER

[–] cocoawaye 16 years ago

I can't agree more with you here and I am a Chinese. I was really disappointed with Zhang Yimou's latest movies. :(

[–] CookieSmuggler 16 years ago

the road home is a touching story that reminds us of the little things in love. there is alot of symbolism and emotion in this film, and that is its greatest strength. the ending is there and quite long as stated above.

[–] sigu828 16 years ago

the whole storey was narrated by their grandchild. do you need any more explanation/ending?

[–] nomen_est_omen_4 16 years ago

Not only is it a beautiful and gorgeous story of young and lasting love, but it's also a story about defying traditions in small, quiet ways, allowing yourself to be so swept up in love that nothing else matters, and remembering to treasure the small gestures, gifts and moments.

Coupled with the fact that every single frame is more beautiful than most paintings, I don't think it's any wonder that people love it. I thought it had a very nice ending. Everything came full circle. We got to see how much Di still loved her husband, the weaving and lesson scenes mirrored each other well, and we saw how much the community appreciated a teacher and friend who had given so much of himself to them.

[–] buzzkill1999 16 years ago

Careful, guys -- don't fall into the Troll Trap. Whenever you see a header like "Why do people like this film?" or "Most over-rated movie of the decade" just keep on moving -- there's nothing of intelligence to see here.

-----------------------------------------------------------
I don't rattle, kid. But just for that, I'm gonna beat you flat.

[–] legendlength 12 years ago

There's also the trap of labeling people trolls when they aren't. I agree it's an easy trap to fall into but in this case the OP is definitely not a troll. To put it another way if he's trolling then he failed miserably because it's a perfectly fine question.

I personally liked the film best for its visuals and soundtrack. Also great was the story, acting by the lead female and the overall pacing.

[–] jnagarya-1 9 years ago

By the son.

[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 15 years ago

Hmm . . . well, I certainly do not agree that it was awkwardly filmed or edited--I thought the cinematography was gorgeous, for one, and I wouldn't agree that it didn't "have an explanation" or ending either. So . . . I guess it just goes to show how subjective that kind of stuff is.

Is everyone in this house a total nutzoid or is it just me?

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jnagarya-1 15 years ago

The "rapidity" of the subtitles!? The subtitles are actually rather sparse -- whole sections of the film have none, because not needed.

And when there are subtitles, they tend to be one -- or two, at most -- lines per screen. And they are relatively liesurely, so can be read without rushing.

It's a beautifully paced pastoral.

[–] myroseblooms 14 years ago

For one thing, the film is visually stunning--the purity of the colors, the magnificence of the landscape (I particularly loved the golden-leaved trees) was incredible. For another thing, the story is really a simple, innocent love story, beautifully told--no sex, no touching even, and yet the intensity of the emotion is very apparent--maybe people get tired of heaving flesh and T & A, and like to be reminded that not every love story is based in the FLESH, but that the HEART is involved. There were few extraneous details or characters either--the storyline was very clean: basically, son and old mom, young dad and young mom, with few background people. Also, the film illustrated so touchingly what young, innocent love is like, as well, as the finer of emotions like respect for parents, respect for education and those who give it, and the devotion of students, loyalty, etc. It is UPlifting---it doesn't scare us or freak us out or overexcite us, it keeps an even keel and the good acting plus fantastic music (though it WAS a little overwrought) made it all come together. That is why so many people liked it...IMHO

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

[–] thomvic 13 years ago

The reason I liked this film was because it was a simple love story. It didn't dwelve into a political story of China which would have made it even more cliche but it was a simple story of a girl who who waited a long time for the guy she loved to come back to her.

The film is told with little lines but all the emotion is there. I could just feel it all the time and the scenery was absolutely beautiful.

Many people have complained about the music score saying it is way too sentimental and overused but I disagree. I think it really adds a lot and says a lot about Di's love for the guy. And it is juts also beautiful to listen to.

[–] heyuactor 13 years ago

I don't see any 'glaring flaws'. I see a beautiful story, well told and well acted.

"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.

[–] jnagarya-1 12 years ago

I not only don't see any "glaring flaws," but also don't see any identified by the reviewer who claims to have seen them.