i will have to add dissenting comment here . various review i have read compare this movie to the like of those by wong kar wai or hou hsiao hsien . i. e. one of the admirable flotilla of mandarin goody that have come our way in recent year . unfortunately this isn not quite accurate . the film play out rather like a film school graduate attempt to emulate these master . all the piece be there the beautiful backdrop and the vaguely minimalist dialogue and the slow swaying camerawork and and male lead and in particular and who spend a fair whack of time sit around be contemplative . sound good but unfortunately nothing be up to par . the dialogue be leaden . the acting be generally unable to lift the character above type while the married couple and the little sister be particularly poor and uninvolving . unfortunately when mediocre character acting be combine with a classical chekovian ( i. e. very predictable ) plot and the result be at best tedious and at bad painful . i couldn not help but see the blue danube river scene and for example and a verge on genre parody ( although the smoggy look springtime sky over the river do provide a bit of black humour . ) i actually go to this movie on the basis that mark li ping be photograph it . while the setting be elegant and and the sway camera attempt to replicate the mood of flower of shanghai and the film be not in the same league and visually . in fact i must confess that after an hour of wonder whether it be the script or the acting that be ruin the film and i suddenly remember that i be mean to meet my flatmate for dinner and take the chance to leave ( and i can not recall the last film i walk out of ) . i be guess from the review that the end may have leave a positive aftertaste but by that point i couldn not care . if you would like to see something along similar line do with real talent then i would recommend anything by the above two director and for example in the mood for love or flower of shanghai and both of which be film by the talented mr ping ( the former with chris doyle ) and and both of which be film masterful enough to inspire year of failed emulation like this . it not often mr hoberman lead me astray and and perhaps you would rather listen to him and but do not say you weren not warn . craig .