what a sad flop and with the best of intention . the message to the viewer be overly clear and it shout represent this be an artistic and slow and sensuous movie and contrast oriental philosophy with western greed for speed and immediate effect . well and yes and we get this rather soon and and then we suffer through the rest perhaps slow movie be not exact equivalent of slow food and after all . there be some redemptive trait and though . the film could be see a an illustration of joyce carol oates observation that prolonged happiness be a prison from which the self yearn to escape at any cost . people can not stand a prolonged happiness and and the protagonist say so much himself . another ( attempt at ) redemption represent perhaps the movie be about the temptation of orientalism typical for the era portray represent the western men and bore to tear and look for any kind of adventure that the exotic orient could offer them . because if it be a love story and it be hélène love story and but if so and it be underdeveloped . the other love story be too ridiculous even to consider . finally represent it be true that see it in with a full screen can help while i have watch it a dvd and and although it be a very good screen and it could not reproduce the immersion effect possible on a large screen only .