Reviewed by: STSH
Date: 01/28/2007
Summary: Glamour for Gong
Quite good glamour vehicle for Gong Li. Photography has the three S's (stunning, sumptuous and sensual), making the film a treat to watch, even when the story turns dull or horrifying. The scene where Li is caught sketching other women's naked bodies in the bathhouse is simply wonderful, but not for Li, as they tears up her sketches and clothes, and yell at her to "go home and draw her own tits". Which she does, thereby finally discovering her true talent.
Being a bio covering a long life, it is of necessity a bit rambling. Also, in showing up some of the social hypocrisy and cruelty of the times, it does at times cross the boundary into propaganda. Ultimately fairly downbeat, even a little depressing, but well worth watching anyway.
Reviewer Score: 7
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Reviewed by: jfierro
Date: 12/21/1999
Gong Li is the flawless, naturally talented artist who just wants to paint her nudes. Derek Yee is her perfect, always supportive husband (despite the fact that they only see each other once every ten years). And China is the big, evil country that only serves to supress her great works of art, and keep the lovers apart. A terribly uninteresting, one-sided movie that manages to span more than 50 years and tell us nothing about the characters it portrays. As close-minded as the culture it seeks to denigrate.
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