Summer Palace

Best one of Ye Lou's, banned in China. Very accurate refection to the social mind in that special era.

"With Summer Palace, Lou Ye speaks more plainly in his own voice, tired at last of affecting Wong Kar Wai's florid style of filmmaking, though he is still treading the Wongian terrain of lovelorn melodrama." - Ed Gonzalez

I know there is a lot to like about this film, the inner dialog Yu Hong has with herself could be thought provoking. The main gripe with the film is the lack of emotional attachment to what's going on. Not once did I put myself in her shoes to experience the heartbreak and longing for love she exhibits throughout the film.

There's too many awkward things in the film for me to recommend it outright. But as it becomes more tangled up and complicated, it's qualities become clearer.