Perhaps Love

[sreyda]

Friday, June 9, 2006

Hong Kong's cinema takes center stage at Seattle International Film Festival

The 32nd Seattle Film festival celebrates Hong Kong this weekend, with seven features from that unique cinema, including a Saturday night gala presentation of "Perhaps Love," a musical co-photographed by former SIFF honoree Christopher Doyle (6:30 p.m., Egyptian).
PERHAPS LOVE (Hong Kong/China): Peter Chan's swoony and sad musical melodrama is a lush but off-key mix of Hollywood fantasy, Asian drama and romantic melancholy. Takeshi Kaneshiro plays a Hong Kong actor in Shanghai to star in a Chinese movie musical, where the romantic triangle of the script is a conspicuously exaggerated reflection of the real-life tensions between takes. The leading lady (Zhou Xun) is an old lover whose buoyant innocence was burst when she left him for his old film-school buddy, the film's director (Jacky Cheung). The story (which also features an angel determined to restore the "deleted footage" of their pasts) can't support the gravity of Chan's overly sober direction, but the production is gorgeous, the musical numbers are nicely mounted and Zhou is a dynamic presence. (S.A.) Grade: B-

Plays Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Egyptian; plays again Tuesday at 2 p.m., Pacific Place

source: seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/273259_siff09.html

[iodred]

My question here is there any chance that thi movie is going to be released in Europe or the States...If it was such a big sucess why not releas it here. Or is it the problem that no one in europe or the states can relate to the movie or how it was made, which happens sometimes ( for example with Wuji) Because Iam thinking to get the DVD, but I never watched the movie before and only for the really pretty SE Edition?! No....

[kewpie-chan]

iodred said:

My question here is there any chance that thi movie is going to be released in Europe or the States...If it was such a big sucess why not releas it here. Or is it the problem that no one in europe or the states can relate to the movie or how it was made, which happens sometimes ( for example with Wuji) Because Iam thinking to get the DVD, but I never watched the movie before and only for the really pretty SE Edition?! No....

I was thinking the same thing too iodred...usually when a movie is touted around from one festival to another for a year, not a good sign. From what an acquaintance of mine said in the past(he's a professional cameraman in independent films) that means usually the production company is fishing for an overseas distributor. If no one is "biting", they go from one festival to another...not only for more exposure, but looking for "buyers" as well. I wonder if there's no takers at this point
There's mixed reviews out there in regards to this film...you either like it or not. Personally, I liked it...but then I'm biased since I like art house/independent/foreign type films

[mshman]

What! It was showing in Seattle and I am just now hearing about it? Shame on me for not keeping up with things. My parents were in town that weekend anyway and I know they would not have enjoyed it. What a bummer! I really, really, really want to see this movie.

[lisab]

I made a request for it at out local rep moviehouse, but nothing so far. . .

Maybe there is no US distributor. Idiots.

[pineapplejuice]

I doubt there would be a US distributor, for one thing, its an asian movie is not either horror or full out action. And its a musical. The US film industry isn't too keen on musicals that aren't already institutions or with overly paid "famous" actors in it.

So an excellent Chinese musical would have an extremely difficult time finding a good foothold in the States.

Damn those bastards in hollywood.

[sreyda]

...usually when a movie is touted around from one festival to another for a year, not a good sign. From what an acquaintance of mine said in the past(he's a professional cameraman in independent films) that means usually the production company is fishing for an overseas distributor. If no one is "biting", they go from one festival to another...not only for more exposure, but looking for "buyers" as well.

Thanks for the info Kewpiechan; I think so too.

I doubt there would be a US distributor, for one thing, its an asian movie is not either horror or full out action. And its a musical. The US film industry isn't too keen on musicals that aren't already institutions or with overly paid "famous" actors in it.
So an excellent Chinese musical would have an extremely difficult time finding a good foothold in the States.

I agree pineapplejuice. Basically the only thing asia is known to be better at in the US is martial arts, so that's the only type of genre people are willing to read subtitles for.

[kewpie-chan]

sreyda said:

I agree pineapplejuice. Basically the only thing asia is known to be better at in the US is martial arts, so that's the only type of genre people are willing to read subtitles for.

Such a shame to be pidgeon-holed into such a narrow category :-( HOWEVER..
You then have a film such as HOFD where it is a fusion of martial arts/drama/romance with many subtleties. As the director said, it's a martial arts film but at its core, it is about love and the various layers of love. There are so many nuances in HOFD that one must view it again and again to really get to the "heart" of the film. And by doing so, the martial arts factor carries on a different feeling in the film as you realize what is the core and it hits you...Pow! Wow, this film is....subarashii!

[lovetk]

Perhaps Love on big screen in France, so will there be have chance in state?!

www.perhapslove-lefilm.com/

[lovetk]

www.perhapslove-lefilm.com/

[kewpie-chan]

I like the tag line on the movie poster lovetk: "L'amour est un jeu de hasard" which roughly translates to "Love is a game of chance"

One can only hope SOMEONE hear in the States wises up and shows it here.

[belligerentpygmy]

I'm actually not a fan of musicals (I think most of them are corny to be honest), even though I do actually love music, so I had to fight the desire to roll my eyes every time a song started up, but the I loved the costumes and the actual plot, and kind of related to, and felt for, both lead characters. Having said that, I actually think this is Takeshi's best work in terms of his acting performance.