Send Me to the Clouds

First, Chen Yao's acting was fantastic in this. When the film starts to meander, it is her acting that keeps the viewer engaged. The film does suffer from inconsistency in tone, at times, with some writing that seems out of place in the plot. The film is beautiful and much of the dialogue and relationships are interesting. Overall, some very important themes are explored and there are enough quiet, powerful, and thoughtful moments that make this worth the view.

Each person's journey through life has it's own challenges. "Here's how you can write it, life and death are ruled by love and desire." "I'm returning to where I came from."

Everyone has desires and fears. Explosions do not require an excuse for terminal illness. Repression does not require release. The whole movie is like a fantasy that is ridiculous and empty after derailing.

Takes awhile to get on track with it but ultimately enjoyable despite the subject matter of a young woman suffering from cancer - despite coming from wealh and has all the trappings success - academic qualifications, looks and intellect - Sheng Nan is still lonely and single and wanting to have a last fling before her operation to treat her cancer.

She meets who she thinks is the perfect man whilst being shipped into a country retreat to ghost write an autobiography of a successful if corrupt businessman but the tale is rather a journey of self discovery.

The film stars one of China's most famous actors - the wonderful Yao Chen.

A worthy 7 out of 10.

I think this is a very powerful and profound human drama set in today's China. The film also gives some very interesting insights of the challenges with which young people in today's China are confronted with - such as the desire of material wealth, versus the aspiration of spiritual growth and finding true love. In fact, it would seem that this is generally a big moral/ethical dilemma in today's world: Whether striving for money, power and sensual pleasures is the most important thing in life - or rather to cultivate kindness, integrity, virtue and spiritual growth; so that a person can find a true purpose in life, and be in harmony with the universe and his loved ones.