Love is the theme in the three disconnected vignettes that make up this film. The only thing common is that
Chen Chang and
Qi Shu plays lovers in all three. Set in 1911, 1966 and 2005, music of different eras play an important role in conveying the mood of the lovers.
The 1911 piece is very interesting with it being shot as a silent film except for the background score. The 60s piece is very understated along the lines of "In the Mood for Love". The 21st century love drama is more raw and less subtle. The descriptions of the three vignettes could easily lead one to think that this film can't hang together. But leave it to Hsiao-hsien Hou to stitch these disparate canvases together.
Rating: * * +
Vicky (Qi Shu) is constantly at odds with her boyfriend Hao-Hao (Chun-hao Tuan) and always breaking up with him. She finds herself using mysterious Jack (Jack Kao) with a shady past, as an anchor in her turbulent life. Like all of Hsiao-hsien Hou films this one too looks at human emotion and passion with dispassionate lenses.
