Timeless love5/15/2023 ![]() ![]() Not all of it works as well as it should (CG shots are still a bit hit or miss), but when it does it's a real treat to behold. Dong uses a whole arsenal of visual tricks to brighten up the film. Individual shots may uphold the impression that this is your typical classic Chinese crime drama (with strong framing and luscious coloring), but multiple split screens, quick cuts and agile camera work reveal an entirely different beast. It takes a second meeting for the two to get their act together, from there on out the film is one large build-up to the inevitable ending. Slightly held back by the realization that changing the course of history might not be such a good idea after all, she rushes in to save him from his barren fate. The girl arrives right before her dream man is apprehended by the authorities. When she comes across the story of and old revolutionary, she wakes us the next day only to find herself stranded in his time period. Timeless Love follows the daydreams of a young Chinese girl. Chances are that this is going to be a love it or hate it film for most people, but I like that a lot better than a compromised vision. You can call it kitsch if you want (and it would be hard to contest), but at least this is kitsch done right (again, the Luhrmann flashbacks). The combination of drama, fantasy and romance is hardly subtle, but Dong compensates with a self-assured air that rubs off on everything he touches. Dong did not just make a straight copy of Luhrmanh's style, still I felt that this film is at least loosely connected to the man's oeuvre.ĭong set out to make a bold film. Due to this clash of classical and modern elements it's probably not all that weird that Baz Luhrmann's name flashed through my mind more than once. Meanwhile the film is executed like a classic Chinese crime/drama (think Zi Hudie, Feng Sheng or Qiu Xi) and mixed together like a modern Chinese romance. Story-wise it's a tribute to Hollywood's Somewhere in Time. Timeless Love is a unique mixture of vastly different influences. Shen Dong's Timeless Love is the latest to join this list of overlooked gems and does so convincingly. While none of them truly fantastic, films like Wu Ren Qu, Gui Pin Che, Ci Chu Yu Bi Chu and Chun Chun Yu Dong have done a great job showcasing the variety, reach and creativity of China's new generation of film makers. ![]() China has been a prime breeding ground for interesting movies this past year. ![]()
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