First of all, I certainly agree with review "blueghost" who notes this movie is NOT a comedy. That is very true. For me it was almost entire a melodrama with a few smiles here and there. It's a very non-offensive story, which is nice, and it's beautifully filmed as I find most Chinese movies tend to be. That's one of the reasons I give them a try. Many times, frankly, they are on the slow side but I marvel at the colors and sometimes I enjoy the leisurely pace. (I'm excluding all those martial-arts films.)
Very few people, including national critics who are reluctant to criticize foreign films, enjoyed this film.
The story is a tale from the late 1940s/early '50s when Chinese were first allowed to bring their wives to the United States after being barred from doing so for years and years.
The problem with the film is that after a somewhat-promising start, it bogs down too much with the day-to-day problems of married life. This is the kind of stuff that gives soap operas a bad name. The story never recovers and this is a hard film to stick with, unless you are fascinated with the conflicts involving Chinese-American men and old-school Chinese women.
Very few people, including national critics who are reluctant to criticize foreign films, enjoyed this film.
The story is a tale from the late 1940s/early '50s when Chinese were first allowed to bring their wives to the United States after being barred from doing so for years and years.
The problem with the film is that after a somewhat-promising start, it bogs down too much with the day-to-day problems of married life. This is the kind of stuff that gives soap operas a bad name. The story never recovers and this is a hard film to stick with, unless you are fascinated with the conflicts involving Chinese-American men and old-school Chinese women.