Taiwanese - Chinese Movie Review: "A Moment of Love" / "Season of Love"

Release Date: August, 2013

Casts:

Vic Zhou - Xiu Nian Zu

Liu Shishi - Jing Ya Qing

In a nutshell: Self discovery brought by the course of traveling with a stranger. This drama is about love in many forms, and that includes finding meaning to what self love is about.

Synopsis: Xiu Nian Zu (Vic Zhou) traveled to China from Taiwan to find an old lady named Ya Qing. His purpose was to deliver a compilation of letters written to her by an old lover, his grandpa who passed away - with whom he wanted his last thoughts through his letters be fulfilled. However, she moved from place to place. Fortunately, he met a lady by chance with a similar name, Jing A Qing to help him find her. She (Liu Shi Shi) is a writer of a magazine publication who happens to be engaged to her fiancé; however due to a request by a friend, she volunteered to do the work and write a feature of a story through going on a travel. This coincidence gave her an opportunity to write a good feature so she offered to help Xian Zu find the old lady Jing A Qing. By chance of destiny - perhaps that was too much of coincidence though, it's a once in a lifetime journey of life that they shouldn't miss.

Commentaries: The story is cliche and a familiar plot to a romantic movie. But I think that this film has something special and different to offer the audience. The cinematography played a bigger role than the story to be effective I must say and I believe that it was amazing. Moreover, the acting was spot on and a good blend with emotion, there wasn't any dramatic background music either. There was the raw feelings playing its own role in the movie. That aspect was very touching and at the same time, made it very authentic.

Moving on to the other inspiration brought to me by the movie is the self discovery in the experience of traveling, which is an enrichment and finding a portion of one's self. What is there that is also important as the beautiful scenery? Of course, the emphasis of nature is the best while the introduction of a new culture to study is another awesome treat to indulge with. Other than what is expected from the movie, I thought that everything is refreshing and I really appreciate the breath taking view it offers.

Overall, the movie lingered into me and I had so much to learn about from watching, apart from the fun it gives. Is it a movie that I would dare to recommend? Of course! I think this is worth it, it's not unpredictable but the impact on someone is explosive in my opinion.

On the actors, I've known Vic for more than a decade already and I still see the younger version of him while watching, but he has improved immensely. He still has that charming aura that never fails to make my heart flutter. On the other hand, Liu Shi Shi who is a very popular Chinese actress but is not familiar to me. I really love the way she carried herself though. I love her, all in all. She has left a very good and long lasting impression on me and I would love to see it as a foundation to more of her projects that I will be seeing in the future.

Review: Petal Dance

In a Nutshell: A soul searching journey of four friends but not quite which was set through traveling in the direction of where the wind is headed.

Summary: The story started with Haraki (Shiori Kutsuna) as a university student who has a part time job and whose character was mostly comprehended by its background. The first scene was with a boyfriend namely Kawada (Shunsuke Kazama), whom along the way didn't have much significance in the story. They also showed the side of her life with her job and few noticeable interactions to a co-worker, a senior (Mariko Goto) who eventually bid goodbye after the boutique where they both worked with closed down. However, the most relevant event that inspired her soul searching is when she developed her curiosity towards the whereabouts of an old friend who suddenly disappeared without prior notice, as she learned that all along, the friend attempted to commit suicide. Hence, she wanted to know what compelled her to hurt herself and she wanted to meet her again whether or not she's alive.

The next introduction is with Motoko (Sakura Ando) who's first scene was through the reunion with an ex-husband Naoto (Masanobu Ando) – and  she asked him to lend them a car to borrow for a trip together with her friend Jinko to visit Miki (Kazue Fukiishi), a classmate from the university who was admitted in rehabilitation because of attempted suicide.

In Haraki’s decision to search for Kyoko (Hanae Kan), she happened to meet Jinko (Aoi Miyazaki) in a library where she borrowed a book on the topic of suicide. Then they came across each other again at the train station. However, Haraki was misunderstood by Jinko when she saw her swaying from back to front repeatedly like that of the starting position for a jump. Thus, thinking of what she might do to herself, she ran up to her and dragged her to the ground to stop her. Because of the event, Jinko injured her fingers and in return, as apologetic as she felt towards Jinko, Haraki accompanied her to the clinic. After that, they exchanged some friendly words while during the conversation, they talked about where are going after. Jinko mentioned about meeting a friend, borrowing a car, and not close to necessary, they needed a driver. After a moment, Haraki volunteered herself because she has so much free time in her hands.

This is where the trip of them together started. They traveled by land, with the objective to meet a friend whom Motoko and Jinko both knew from the university. Both are casually talking about her, saying things like they would never know what to say to make her feel better or to make the situation easier for her to manage. Following these ideas, they are also troubled by thoughts of what could have been done to prevent this moment from happening. Meanwhile, Haraki was driving and consciously listening to the conversation between the two while she has the thought of her friend in her mind. While on the road, the concept of the wind appeared in the conversation, and Haraki could somewhat relate to what the two are feeling because of too much familiarity with the situation. However, she didn't relate her situation to them. There she remembered a moment wherein Kyoko shared to Haraki that when you wish for something and let the wind carry it to its direction, it will come true. Hence, the same thought processes are unconsciously occurring amongst them.

Arriving to the place, they met Miki after so long. The moment was a mixed feeling of awkwardness and longing for one another. Anyhow, they realized that they must create something out of the position they are into. This included Miki bringing them to the places where she'd want them to be with. Then the next day, they exactly did what was planned.

I think that from this moment on, it would be better to anticipate of what's going to happen afterwards.