Soundless Windchime details
| Format: | 15 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Siu Ying Wong, Yulai Lu, Bernhard Bulling, Hannes Lindenblatt |
| Director: | Kit Hung |
| Genres: | Drama, Gay/Lesbian - General |
| Studio: | LACE GROUP |
| Original title | Mo seng fung ling |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Soundless Windchime |
15 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 50 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 28 Feb 2011 |
| Main languages: | English, German, Cantonese, Mandarin |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
Decoding Soundless Wind Chime
By Shikari7 (16 reviews) from Hove, England , 09 May 2011[Highly rated reviewer]
[Highly rated reviewer]
Kit Hung's movie Soundless Wind Chime eschews linear narrative, a feature that might well put off some viewers unused to experimental cinema. The film follows the relationship between Ricky (Yulai Lu) and Pascal, played by Berhard Bulling. We are made aware that some event will tear the two lovers apart, but we are not told what this is until the very end. Various events unfold, but are presented out of linear order, and the narrative must be decoded by careful viewing. In any case, the Hong Kong scenes occur before the scenes in Switzerland (which happen after the relationship between Ricky and Pascal is over).
Another feature of this movie which might unsettle the unweary is that it is extremely sparse on narrative, most of the emotional interaction being communicated through looks and demeanor. However, I have found that this adds to the beauty and gentleness of the film.
The film contains numerous references to reincarnation and the transience of things. Indeed, it almost seems to embody Buddhist philosophy. Thus, at the very beginning, we see a woman saying farewell to a man who then turns into a boy as he walks away. This, presumably, symbolises Pascal's and Ueli's parents who (we learn later) have recently died. The father dies but is reincarnated as a boy.
By the way, why the blurb for this movie describes Ricky meeting Ueli as 'a revelation that exposes more truths about his lover than Ricky could ever have imagined' I have no idea. The film doesn't work in this manner - it is much subtler than that (and all the better for it).
For myself, I have found that my appeciation of this movie has grown with time. Although, for me, the film had little *immediate* emotional impact, I found myself recalling scenes from the movie afterwards, and only gradually realised that the movie had affected me far more deeply than I had at first realised. In any case, whatever one's ultimate judgement, it is amazingly acted, and very beautiful both visually and musically; and certainly, I think, well worth a look.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(10)Don't waist your time with this movie.
By bobos (1 review) , 20 Apr 2013To repeat a review i like:This film insults the viewer. We are never given any clue as to the nature of the relationship between Ricky and Pascal, so we have no way of understanding what is happening. I am not against abrupt changes of time and place on principle, but in this film it happens far too much. It is a shame, because the main actors are beautiful and a lot of time and money must have been spent on the large cast and dual location. But the film does not work in any way. I watched until the end in the hope that it would improve, but it didn't.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Beautiful but frustrating.
By ThamesTango (8 reviews) , 27 Feb 2013I am not opposed to non-linear narrative, but this film is so difficult to follow that I had to watch it again with the directors commentary, then had to resort to reading reviews to understand the sequence of events. Very beautiful, lovely performances, but the director has overestimated the viewers ability to follow events that seem to be deeply personal. Yes it lingers in the mind, but with a sense of frustration too.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Don't bother with this
By DavidPollak (8 reviews) , 25 Dec 2011This film insults the viewer. We are never given any clue as to the nature of the relationship between Ricky and Pascal, so we have no way of understanding what is happening. I am not against abrupt changes of time and place on principle, but in this film it happens far too much. It is a shame, because the main actors are beautiful and a lot of time and money must have been spent on the large cast and dual location. But the film does not work in any way. I watched until the end in the hope that it would improve, but it didn't.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Brilliant Brilliant
By ash53 (53 reviews) from newbury , 05 Oct 2011I approached this with caution.... slumped down on the settee and prepared for the worst...I stayed slumped down totally riveted...the time shifts with overlayed dialogue ( or in our case subtitles) was a brilliant way of ' seeing' what the characters thought was happening and 'knowing' what actually happened - lovely story too. That bit with the bird......wow- Was this review helpful to you?
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Watch without sound!
By a customer , 04 Jun 2011THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide
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