User Reviews

Narrative short films are difficult works of art to carry off. Unlike, feature films they require a rare kind of precision to register on us emotionally or intellectually. This beautiful short film by Julia Kwan is a nearly perfect example of the form. The film is, in fact, so breathtakingly accomplished as narrative that I long to see Kwan develop into a major filmmaker. The story told in a concise twenty two minutes explores the lives of three Chinese-canadian sisters who become obsessed with the corpse of a rat that their mother has killed. Kwans mastery at visual storytelling and at working with the young actors is amazing considering this is only her second film. The glorious cinematography is by the very talented, Dylan McLeod, who shot Clement Virgo's LOVE COME DOWN. If this film is ever playing at a festival near you check it out. You will not be disappointed.

One of the movies that I was very excited about seeing at the Toronto International Film Festival was Three Sisters on Moon Lake. It completely lived up to my expectations. The short film is about three Chinese sisters who are very close in age and how they relate to each other and their family. The three sisters are very creative and when their mother kills a rat in their house, the create a shrine and hope to bring the rat back to life.

The short is very good. My only complaint was that it was too short! I could have watched the interaction between the girls for an hour. They were funny and sweet and their creativity almost made me jealous!

I highly recommend this Canadian short. It is worth seeing if you get the chance.

"Three Sisters on Moon Lake" is a very thought-provoking look into the lives of three young Chinese girls, Sisters, who are facing conflicts between the traditions of their family and the opportunities available in their Canadian home.

To give their lives meaning, the Sisters invent their own mystical mythology which is brought to light beautifully in this short film. Through the use of sound and colour, Julia Kwan succeeds in bringing the audience into the story. On several occasions, the entire theatre reacted as one to on-screen events.

At the film's climax, the three Sisters are forced to find some way to reconcile the conflict between their culture, the realities of Canadian life, and their mythical world. Their chosen path leaves the viewers profoundly moved and remains on your mind for days.

This film is definitely worth seeing both for its cultural significance and its visual and musical beauty.