Heydon McIntosh
Set in Hong Kong at the eve of the handover, Jeremy Irons stars as an expat freelance journalist in love with an unattainable local woman. A piece of unsettling news prompts him to distance himself from her, making the most of his last days in the territory.The acting by both leads was superb. As another review has noted the way it was shot made it feel like a documentary, with Jeremy Irons narrating over several scene transitions and pouring out his confessions and regrets.The whole experience feels honest and captures the mood of Hong Kong in the 90s perfectly. Chinese Box is a fitting a tribute to the city itself, the ever bustling backdrop to a genuine love story.8/10
evening1
I enjoyed this impressionistic portrait of a man who is always searching and documenting, and who triggers the same impulse in the two very different women he pursues.The camera loves its four main characters -- stunning Gong Li, a mellowing Jeremy Irons, Maggie Cheung (an interesting actress I'd never seen previously), and in-your-face Hong Kong during its 1997 handover.We follow the pursuits of John, who is destined to die within six months from leukemia, as he makes a last-ditch effort to win over Vivian, who wastes herself on a wealthy businessman too ashamed of her to marry her. At the same time, he attempts to understand the life of Jean, an incest survivor who in the course of John's intervention gradually stops hiding a large facial scar.Many questions are left unanswered by the time John's camera trails off. This is part of what I like about the film. Where has John come from and what is the trauma that he has fled? Why does Vivian have to act like someone she is not just to be able to kiss John? Why does John's mouth avoid Vivian's when he's finally about to embrace her...as if their kiss is ultimately taboo? The movie won't answer our questions but challenges us to just keep on pondering them. It leaves a pleasant if not indelible impression. Like Hong Kong's transition, only time will tell what it has meant.
bunch-5
Much has already been said about the film itself. Here are some comments regarding the portrayal of Hong Kong. An early comment was saying that this film makes Hong Kong look dirty and cramped.Well, having lived in Hong Kong (in several different areas) I have to say that what the film shows is reality. I was paying about US$1,000 per month for a small room about 10 x 15 feet in Hong Kong (Tin Hau area) in 1996. It was not even a really nice place. Hong Kong is very expensive to live in.It is also a very dirty and polluted place compared to cities in the West. The director of the film was not making this up.By reading this you may think I hated it there, well it rates as one of my favorite cities in the world. It has a lot of charm.By the way, the movie isn't bad and worth a look.
TxMike
Jeremy Irons is the main reason for seeing this movie, the title "Chinese Box" implying that this story has many layers and hidden meanings, as does a Chinese Box. Irons is a journalist in Hong Kong, New years' eve of 1997, when the British rule and occupation are to begin it phase out. He loves a Chinese woman who, because of her trade cannot marry him, nor the Chinese man who loves her. I was immediately put off by the background music, although it may have been faithful to Hong Kong. Still, I thought it was irritating mostly. I was also put off by the preponderance of hand-held camera shots, and not even steadycam! Plus, the many scenes shot on a small digital camera. True, all that contributed to the 'mood', but I guess I was just not 'in the mood'!! As I told my wife, "This is probably a better movie than I was able to enjoy.The best part of the film, to me, was the actual singing of Reubin Blades, along with his guitar self-accompaniment. I rate it "6" of 10 and worth a view for anyone who likes slow-moving, complexly developed relationships.
AD
