Lady Wu ...and other observations

Apparently the actress was a major star in China before coming to the US and, virtually, starting all over. I thought her performance in this film was marvelous as was Willem Dafoe's. Although you have the feeling that the story had to end the way it did, with him being a priest, but it was a disappointment nonetheless. As indicated in another message here, it seemed unfair that she had to wait so long to feel the love she felt for him and then have him taken away so quickly. I'm always touched by the delicate gracefulness of the female characters in stories like these because, generally, it's so unlike the straightforward manner of female characters that we are used to seeing. Neither approach lessens the character, but it allows for a nice alternative.

Also, when the second wife came for her "job interview", I almost fell out of my chair laughing as she was gobbling up the food. I realize that she was probably vary hungry, which isn't funny, but it was still very funny to watch her as she disregarded any possible repercussions to do what she had to do.

Finally, it's always fascinating to see things from a culturally different point of view. Master Wu trivializing the lady who is dying in childbirth, no one wanting to allow a man into the presence of a woman giving birth and, of course, the whole concubine experience among other things.

The entire movie was a great experience for me.