Movies
The Chinese Botanist's Daughters
Sijie Dai made an impressive film.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
My first introduction to Sijie Dai's work (and that might be the case for Xun Zhou too). I was still finding my way in Asian cinema when I first caught this, and it gave me a similar vibe to Postman in the Mountains. The film has lost some of its charm the second time around, but it still offers pleasant romance in a stunning setting. Two young city boys are sent to a little mountain village for their re-education. They have to leave behind the modern world, but the village offers other perks. The young daughter of the local tailor captures their mind. The more she hears their stories about the outside world, the more eager she becomes to leave her hometown. The Chinese mountains are idyllic, even though the life there must have been pretty harsh. The actors are solid, the romance is sweet and the pacing is pleasant. The only thing lacking is something that elevates the film, something to set it apart and make it truly memorable. It's a fine film though, just not the personal favorite I remembered it to be.Read all