| The Road Home |
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| Rating: Good Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics U.S. Release Date: May 25th, 2001 (limited) Running Length: 2 hours, 29 minutes MPAA Rating: PG Genre: Romance, Drama In Mandarin with English subtitles Director Zhang Yimou Cast: Zhang Ziyi, Sun Honglei, Zheng Hao and Zhao Yeulin. |
| Plot: A successful business man, Yusheng Lou is called back to the the town he grew up in. His father has just died, and his mother, Di, is immersed in deep sadness. His mother insists on having a traditional ceremony for her husband's death. However, the task she requests is highly expensive and would take a tremendous amount of work. To understand his mother's request Lou remembers the story of his mother and father's courtship. They defied tradition and social class; they married because of love. At the time everyone had arranged marriages. One can see Di's obsessive personality develop from her younger days. She was the most beautiful woman of the village, and her future husband was an educated teacher. |
| Critique: The Road Home is a pleasant, wonderfully constructed fable. The film is minor, and often manipulative; however it is honest at its core. The acting is very strong, and Zhang Yimou's direction is superb. The film is artistically assured, and Hou Yong's cinematography is delicate and serene. San Bao's score is solid, but it is the tool of manipulation throughout the film. A good score is supposed to act as a frame to a film, as well as enhance its narrative and add to its spirit. However, San Bao's score in The Road Home, is too forceful and it is used excessively so that it becomes obvious and misplaced. The melody is enjoyable to listen to by itself, but it is utilized poorly. The director is at fault for not using the score appropriately, and the composer did little wrong. Yet, the musical placement is the director's only major error. Yimou is in complete control of his film, and he executes its narrative with assured craftsmanship. Additionally, The screenplay is not ambitious, but it is highly successful at fulfilling its objective. The film is a delicately constructed, wonderfully enjoyable fable. Its characters are engaging and their plights are believable. Zang Ziyi delivers a solid performance, even though her character is unlikable. The rigid, obsessive character she plays has few redeeming qualities. I also feel her character in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is unlikable. The protagonist she plays in 'Tiger' is an irritating and immature individual that never grows throughout the film. Likewise, her character in The Road Home never changes throughout the film, and maintains her weak personality. Yet, the film is artistically stunning and beautiful, and is sweet throughout. Therefore, the film is very good, even though its protagonist is uninteresting. The Road Home is a beautiful production with a pleasant story. The story is simple and never challenges the viewer, but it succeeds in its goals. It is at times manipulative, and the female protagonist is unlikable. However, its strengths eclipse its weaknesses. I highly recommend The Road Home, an enjoyable drama. review by supernothingman |