One Second

Whist in search of a lost film roll of utmost importance, One Second takes us on a delightful trip through the desert. The plot reminds strongly of Cinema Paradiso and doesn't add anything innovative to the mix. But it holds enough clever twists and turns to engage the audience.

The movie suffers from some minor flaws but can hide them behind the beautiful cinematography. Meanwhile, its feel-good quality prevents it from living up to the subtlety and nuance of Yimuo's earlier work. And rather than a celebration of film, it almost feels as if they are actually celebrating propaganda. Furthermore, the main character keeps making funny decisions - often of staying silent - which puts him in increasingly dire trouble.

Yet, the performances are firm, the imagery is occasionally exceptional, and Yimou's direction is refined. It's better than most movies these days, but the story itself fails to reach higher ground.