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Cafe Lumiere Reviews

2004

60
from 670 members

Hou Hsiao-Hsien, one of China's greatest filmmakers, honours the memory of the great Yasujiro Ozu in the beautiful CAFE LUMIERE. Like Ozu, Hou tries to capture honesty and reality in the film, which stars pop idol Yo Hitoto as Yoko, a young woman who makes her way through life almost casually, not letting anything get her too .. Read more

Starring	Yo Hitoto, Tadanobu Asano, Masato Hagiwara, Yo Kimiko
Director	Hou Hsiao-Hsien
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Most helpful member's review of Cafe Lumiere
View all members' reviews (12)
- - 7
  - 0
  Contemplation on the rails
  
  Hou Hsiao-Hsien is regarded as the greatest modern Taiwanese film-maker, and yet, inexplicably, 'Cafe Lumiere' is the only one of his films to have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 256142
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Hackney Henge
  - 20 Jun 2006 at 02:36
Most recent members' reviews of Cafe Lumiere
View all members' reviews (12)
- - 0
  - 0
  Nothing to see here
  
  This film was basically about girl who liked going round on the train, eating with her parents and talking to her friend who works in a bookshop. I tried to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1101345
- - AJHowser
  - 2 reviews
  - 11 Mar 2012 at 10:34
- - 2
  - 0
  Poor homage to Ozu
  
  I enjoy Ozu's films which are grounded in every day life. However they do have a storyline which can be followed with meaningful character interactions. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 943288
- - a customer
  - Leicestershire
  - 29 Nov 2010 at 15:08
- - 1
  - 0
  Dull...
  
  Really couldn't get into this at all. For a minimal storyline it did little visually to stir the senses.
  
  Report this review
- 865589
- - Ell1981
  - 169 reviews
  - London
  - 24 Feb 2010 at 14:14
- - 1
  - 0
  Cafe Lumiere
  
  Never went anywhere. Lots of time spent travelling on the train system.
  
  Report this review
- 762090
- - a customer
  - Maidenhead
  - 25 May 2009 at 12:08
- - 1
  - 0
  dreary... and worth it
  
  Like most of the reviewers who have written on this, I am always prepared for the slow, subtle and often dialogue-lite world of independent/art cinema. Like ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 651700
- - a customer
  - North London
  - 29 Oct 2008 at 22:45
- - 2
  - 0
  Ordinary Life, Simply Portrayed
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Yes the critics are right, story? what story?
  
  Its a homage to Ozu of course, with its unmoving camera and long scenes of nothing much.The theme of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 587069
- - Gruf
  - 9 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 24 Jun 2008 at 06:56
- - 0
  - 0
  pointless boredom
  
  15 minutes into the film and literally nothing happens, 30 minutes more and same story (no story). that was enough for me. i usually like arthouse oriental ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 404869
- - a customer
  - london
  - 22 Jan 2007 at 14:03
- - 0
  - 0
  What can I say
  
  I normally love arthouse films, and have been blitzing the Japanese ones of late. The only good thing I can say about this film is that it gives glimpses into ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 392090
- - Julie Cooper
  - Cardiff, Wales
  - 05 Dec 2006 at 16:46
- - 0
  - 0
  Pointless
  
  I wanted to like this film because I like Tadanobu Asano, but I have to agree with the other reviewer...this film was boring. There wasnt even a suggestion of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 384821
- - catwhiskers
  - 37 reviews
  - England
  - 14 Nov 2006 at 17:28
- - 7
  - 0
  Contemplation on the rails
  
  Hou Hsiao-Hsien is regarded as the greatest modern Taiwanese film-maker, and yet, inexplicably, 'Cafe Lumiere' is the only one of his films to have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 256142
- - a customer
  - Hackney Henge
  - 20 Jun 2006 at 02:36
View all members' reviews (12)

- - 7
  - 0
  Contemplation on the rails
  
  Hou Hsiao-Hsien is regarded as the greatest modern Taiwanese film-maker, and yet, inexplicably, 'Cafe Lumiere' is the only one of his films to have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 256142
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Hackney Henge
  - 20 Jun 2006 at 02:36
- - 4
  - 2
  Boring
  
  I simply could not watch this film: it was so boring I kept dozing off. Nothing happened, visually it was not the promised delight - which must have been why I... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 253522
- - a customer
  - Hampshire
  - 11 Jun 2006 at 16:08
- - 2
  - 0
  Ordinary Life, Simply Portrayed
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  Yes the critics are right, story? what story?
  
  Its a homage to Ozu of course, with its unmoving camera and long scenes of nothing much.The theme of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 587069
- - Gruf
  - 9 reviews
  - Scotland
  - 24 Jun 2008 at 06:56
- - 2
  - 0
  Poor homage to Ozu
  
  I enjoy Ozu's films which are grounded in every day life. However they do have a storyline which can be followed with meaningful character interactions. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 943288
- - a customer
  - Leicestershire
  - 29 Nov 2010 at 15:08
- - 1
  - 0
  dreary... and worth it
  
  Like most of the reviewers who have written on this, I am always prepared for the slow, subtle and often dialogue-lite world of independent/art cinema. Like ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 651700
- - a customer
  - North London
  - 29 Oct 2008 at 22:45
- - 1
  - 0
  Cafe Lumiere
  
  Never went anywhere. Lots of time spent travelling on the train system.
  
  Report this review
- 762090
- - a customer
  - Maidenhead
  - 25 May 2009 at 12:08
- - 1
  - 0
  Dull...
  
  Really couldn't get into this at all. For a minimal storyline it did little visually to stir the senses.
  
  Report this review
- 865589
- - Ell1981
  - 169 reviews
  - London
  - 24 Feb 2010 at 14:14
- - 0
  - 0
  ordinary people in an ordinary film
  
  I got this while waiting for the next Yasujiro Ozu film to be bought by Screenselect. In no way is this a homage, there is none of the superb compositions, the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 242024
- - itstinks
  - 573 reviews
  - North of Reading
  - 09 May 2006 at 11:25
- - 0
  - 0
  Pointless
  
  I wanted to like this film because I like Tadanobu Asano, but I have to agree with the other reviewer...this film was boring. There wasnt even a suggestion of ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 384821
- - catwhiskers
  - 37 reviews
  - England
  - 14 Nov 2006 at 17:28
- - 0
  - 0
  What can I say
  
  I normally love arthouse films, and have been blitzing the Japanese ones of late. The only good thing I can say about this film is that it gives glimpses into ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 392090
- - Julie Cooper
  - Cardiff, Wales
  - 05 Dec 2006 at 16:46

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- Cafe Lumiere
  
  Hou Hsiao-Hsien, one of China's greatest filmmakers, honours the memory of the great Yasujiro Ozu in the beautiful CAFE LUMIERE. Like Ozu, Hou tries to capture honesty and reality in the film, which stars pop idol Yo Hitoto as Yoko, a young woman who makes her way through life almost casually, not ...