Before we fall in love again

Malaysia 2006

Poster and details dahuangpictures

Seen 20 May 2007

This is a story of a husband and his wife's lover search for the missing wife. We see from flashbacks how each of them met the girl. The husband seems so weak and meek when we see how the wife manages to have another relationship without any suspicions from the husband. The wife must have been very good in covering her tracks. The lover comes across as a loving person but I'm not sure whether he behaves the same way with his own family. I guess he did not neglect his role as the breadwinner and head of the family despite his affair with another woman.

The woman in the centre of this triangle is the head honcho, someone with a strong personality. She knows what she wants and proceeds to the next step without any qualms. Most probably a life with just one person does not satisfy her inner self. Different people at different times would give a different impact on a person. When that feeling of fulfillment disappears, it is time to move on. She is brave enough to acknowledge that emotional longing and need and act on it, whereas a lot of us are more than willing to stay the course despite the obvious heartaches that follow.

The three main actors did a good job in conveying their characters unique qualities. A very even paced story. No major flare-ups and very civilised. Maybe there is even an indirect comic, not exactly funny but amusing take on the husband's character. I could not help smiling when the husband acknowledges that he could not drive and the lover had to drive the car when they went on their search for the love of their lives.

But love conquers all, right? It does not discriminate.

Things we do when we fall in love

Malaysia 2007

Poster and details dahuangpictures

Seen 20 May 2007

What exactly do we do? In this film, the two main characters see others, the man even acknowledges that he slept with another girl. When the girl asked who is this other woman, he refuses to tell. They get into a fight. But the man swears that he will always love the girl but both are unsure what the future will bring.

As this is supposedly an arty-farty film, the pace would be excruciatingly painfully slow for some viewers. Of course, the art direction is picture postcard perfect in some scenes., The cinematographer managed to capture that desolate, lonely, abandoned feeling of lovers who have just had a fight.

The actors need not emote that much. Blank looks and a far away gaze convey that emptiness, hopelessness feeling within oneself. They are supposedly two lovers but they have to grapple with the uncertainty of the future. No one can guarantee a fairy tale, happily ever after ending. That can be achieved only through sheer hard work and determination.

The Bird House

Malaysia 2007

Poster and details redfilms

Seen 8 April 2007

The first few shots bowled me over. The audience sees the cinematographer's sure hand in capturing the beauty of ordinary inanimate objects. Shadows, varying shades of gray, specks of colour and the brightness of the day. Excellent art direction. But what about the story itself.

Some may find the pace excruciatingly slow. The film has a simple story line which focuses on two sons' different approaches in making money out of their ancestral home. The father himself seems resigned to his fate of being ignored. The father only comes into the picture forcefully when one of the sons made a fundamental mistake. The son takes for granted that his big city experience would save the day and misuses the father's trust.