Ban sheng yuan

A local television station shows a Chinese movie every week which is how I saw it. This screening was in Cantonese with english subtitles. Keep in mind that movies in Hong Kong and China are often available in several dialects so the comments that this movie is in Mandarin is not strictly correct.

As someone else described this is an intimate gentle drama. It is not a "great" movie but it is certainly well above average. The acting is competent as is the direction. Some may find the pacing slow but I prefer to think of it as patient. I certainly felt drawn to the characters although that may be because of my Chinese heritage. I think that my have helped me accept some of what was going on in the movie.

I would watch the movie again and recommend it to anyone who appreciates patient quiet dramas.