Although beautifully shot and superbly acted this is nothing but a run of the mill melodrama, full of overused sentimental and predictable cliches.
This could have been a wonderful and touching story and it is unfortunate that such a good and deservedly prestigious director as Yimou chose the easy narrative way out.
This could have been a wonderful and touching story and it is unfortunate that such a good and deservedly prestigious director as Yimou chose the easy narrative way out.