Zhou Yu's Train on DVD (2002)

milnerv from Dorset , 07/05/2005

Inside the superb acting, beautiful photography, and excellent surround sound (when the trains travel from the front to the rear speakers you can feel the wind as they pass) I just know there is a wonderfully deep story.

I am certain the major problem is badly translated sub titles, and also the cultural differences between western and Chinese romantic fiction.

The timeline appears deliberately jumbled, possibly to add interest to a basically very simple love story. I think there are several important symbols in the film, Zhou Yu’s frantic train travelling twice a week to meet her lover is intended to illuminate the character of someone who strives to achieve something, and then discards it. The broken vase on the train symbolises the fragmentary nature of existence. Her ceramic painting reflects Zhou Yu’s character that finds satisfaction in stylised beauty and quickly runs away from real emotion.

The real meaning of the poems appear lost in the translation. However towards the end of the film the following comment by Zhou Yu seems intended to explain what she has been sub consciously striving for “I finally understood a lover is mirror though which you see yourself more clearly.”

I recommend reading some of the magazine reviews on the internet which throw some light on this fascinating film.

This film will have you trying to unravel it’s mysteries for a long time.

  9 out of 11 people found this review helpful

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zehnder from Hampshire , 17/08/2005

This film is a complex love triangle showing how an enigmatic and bold young woman's heart is divided by a love for realism and passion from the vet and love for the romantic beauty of the poet.

What I really loved as well was the fantastic combination of Chinese geography with the smoggy city and dirty Yangtse river and then the lush green beauty of the hills, as the train travels.

I think this is a thoughtfully translated film with subtitles using more than a basic vocabulary to try and convey some of the deeper thoughts of the film, but I still suspect much is lost in the cultural differences of East and West.

I am glad I watched it and think it has much to offer.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Esther5 from London , 11/06/2005

Very slow; good photography but not much of a story. It is a beautiful movie, well acted, but it could have been a lot better and the ending is disappointing.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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A customer from Lincoln, Lincs , 23/06/2005

This is a interesting little film, another character driven piece. Asian cinema, you either get fast paced violent shoot em ups, or slower more thoughtful films like this. Its a story about the complex relationships between 3 people. As a character piece its thoughtful and interesting, watching the developing relationships and impact it has among the 3 leads. Good performances especially from the beautiful Gong Li it has its moments especially the surprising end. Its good it won't be everyones cup of tea, but if you liked, 2046 and the Road Home (the more thoughtful and sweet side to Asian cinema) then you will like this.

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zehnder from Hampshire , 17/08/2005

This film is a complex love triangle showing how an enigmatic and bold young woman's heart is divided by a love for realism and passion from the vet and love for the romantic beauty of the poet.

What I really loved as well was the fantastic combination of Chinese geography with the smoggy city and dirty Yangtse river and then the lush green beauty of the hills, as the train travels.

I think this is a thoughtfully translated film with subtitles using more than a basic vocabulary to try and convey some of the deeper thoughts of the film, but I still suspect much is lost in the cultural differences of East and West.

I am glad I watched it and think it has much to offer.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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GP from West London [Highly rated reviewer] , 05/09/2005

The movie is a good watch. If you are into abstract World Cinema and want to watch something on a leisurely afternoon then this is the one to get. Something that is a little bit thought provoking but nothing that will put you on the edge of the seat. Beautiful setting for the film and the scenery is very well captured. The sequence of events shown in the film are not in chronological order but that is part of what the film is about I think. I enjoyed the film all the way through until we got to the end. The mystery of Chen Ching's past is never resolved and the reasons for the initial parting are not completely clear. Therefor a slightly disappointing ending but an enjoyable film nevertheless.

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