Genre: Drama
Starring: Zhu Zhiying, Matt Wu
Release year: 2009
Language: Mandarin
Subtitle: English
SYNOPSIS:
Ji Ling lives with her husband in Taibei, Taiwan. After a crash that killed their young child, Ji Ling is overcome with grief. Not able to forgive the couple who were driving the other car and even more frustrated with her husband’s apparent lack of emotion, she flees to Shangri-la. While traveling, she encounters a young man named Alex who insists on accompanying her as a tour guide. They become close as they travel together but Ji Ling, upon discovering the young man's secret, feels betrayed and continues on her own. On her way to the holy Meili Snow Mountain she meets more disaster. During the long journey in Shangri-la, Ji Ling finds her own way to face the death of her child.
RATING: 8.5/10
USER RATING:
REVIEW:
" 'Finding Shangri-La' is adapted from the stage play “Welcome to Shangri-La.” The main plot isn't complicated, and at parts it is a little bit cliché, but there are still surprises within the movie. For example, the identity of Alex, the leading actor (but more like a supporting one), the identity of the Tibetan boy, and the 'place' the sketch indicates. But the most fascinating part is the heavenly location of the story-- Shangri-La.
The scenery at Shangri-La is more than beautiful; it is astonishing, and most important of all, you can feel it 360-degrees around you; the only thing that uses visual effects in the film is a butterfly. The houses, clothes, food, songs of the Tibetans are all in the film but unfortunately, those are all of Tibetan culture we can see in the film. If you're expecting to see more like cultural or value diversities between modern and traditional societies, you'll be disappointed. After all, Tibetan culture and scenery are the background of “Finding Shangri-La.” The spirit of this film is our protagonist, Ji Ling.
Ji Ling is played by Chu Chi-ying, a Taiwanese actress. She once played a supporting actress in Ang Lee's 'Lust, Caution' and has featured in many famous stage-plays directed by Stan Lai, who also produced 'Finding Shangri-La.' This is her first movie in a leading role, but she seems like she has been acting for more than ten years.
I've mentioned earlier that she is the spirit of the film. Not just because she appears in almost every scene, but as the storyline goes, she is capable of drawing the audience into her emotions, as if we're all in her situation. She laughs, cries, blushes, kisses, struggles without any of the exaggeration that most stage-play actresses may have.
On the other hand, the leading (or 'supporting' by the time he appears) actor Alex Wu, whose name is also Alex in the film, is actually acting himself; there isn't any breakthrough for him while other supporting characters, such as Ji Ling's husband, son, the 'murderer,' and the Tibetan child, are all acting above the average.
The entire film flows very smoothly. I was at first worried about the bedroom scene of this film. If everything happened too fast, it would be just like the one in 'Cape No.7' -- too fast and too unexpected. I don't want to spoil anything by saying too much, but fortunately the bedroom scene of 'Finding Shangri-La' was very natural and longer than I expected.
This movie is recommended for anyone who likes to enjoy a story of sublimating love and sadness turning into forgiveness, or wants to have their breath taken by the spectacular scenery of Yun-nan. For those who worry that this film may be caviar to the general audience-- too difficult to understand, I would say that the first half is quite commercial, while the second half is very artistic; it's a caviar-and-ham sandwich. This may or may not meet everyone's tastes.
As for me, I greatly enjoyed the film. I like Hollywood blockbusters, while enjoying some artistic films as well; 'Finding Shangri-La' is somewhere in between. There are some flaws in the film, but these are covered by the picturesque views and an outstanding leading actress.
Make a path for yourself to see a Taiwanese film; it is not another 'Cape No.7,' but 'Finding Shangri-La' is nowhere behind it in many aspects "
Source: The China Post
PREVIEW:
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