Zhang Ziyi and Joan Chen give great performances in this unique film from China. It is about the struggles of three separate generations. Ziyi plays the younger roles of Mo during the thirties, Young Li in the sixties, and young Hua in the eighties. Joan Chen plays Mo's mother in the opening segment, then plays the older Mo for the rest of the film. The two women play off of each other very well in this. They are conflicted and are at odds with each other, but at the same time have a loving bond between them as a mother and daughter would have. The men in the film play the secondary roles roles very well. Wen Jiang plays the manipulative Mr. Meng who promises the Young Mo the idealistic lifestyle of becoming a famous movie star and having a wonderful life. He impregnates Mo and ends up showing his true colors when the Japanese invade during the beginning of World War 2. The first third of the movie ends with young Mo giving birth to her daughter Li. Li grows up and falls for Zou Jie played by Lu Yi. Zou Jie is a dyed in the wool Mao supporter. He hates the older Mo because of her love for the movies and worldly possessions. Mo warns Li that she will be miserable if she marries Zou Jie. Li's marriage is rocky until they move back in with Mo and decide to adopt a child and call her Hua. Li eventually loses her sanity and the marriage ends in a tragic way.
Baby Hua grows up and is played by Ziyi as well. She is educated and she has been raised by her grandmother Mo. Hua secretly marries her boyfriend played by Ye Liu. Ye Liu is like a professional student who does not seem to have found a career path. Hua lives with Mo while he is away in college. Once again there are tragic consequences, but with a twinge of upbeat courage, honor, and simply enduring hardship.
Both Ziyi and Joan are tremendous. I think the film is a tribute to the strength of women. A woman's strength does not come so much from the physical strength, although the Hua character shows some incredible physical strength at the end, but more from the spiritual, mental, and emotional side.
Excellent writing and direction as well. My only complaint was some of the sub titling could have been better.
This is not an action movie, no swords or people flying around, it is a drama, and a very good one. Ziyi has given great dramatic performances in 2046, The Road Home, Purple Butterfly, Memoirs of a Geisha, and now Jasmine Women. She is one of my favorite actresses. Joan Chen really impressed me with her performance. She use to be in the television series Twin Peaks and she proves in this film she is a great actress also.
Baby Hua grows up and is played by Ziyi as well. She is educated and she has been raised by her grandmother Mo. Hua secretly marries her boyfriend played by Ye Liu. Ye Liu is like a professional student who does not seem to have found a career path. Hua lives with Mo while he is away in college. Once again there are tragic consequences, but with a twinge of upbeat courage, honor, and simply enduring hardship.
Both Ziyi and Joan are tremendous. I think the film is a tribute to the strength of women. A woman's strength does not come so much from the physical strength, although the Hua character shows some incredible physical strength at the end, but more from the spiritual, mental, and emotional side.
Excellent writing and direction as well. My only complaint was some of the sub titling could have been better.
This is not an action movie, no swords or people flying around, it is a drama, and a very good one. Ziyi has given great dramatic performances in 2046, The Road Home, Purple Butterfly, Memoirs of a Geisha, and now Jasmine Women. She is one of my favorite actresses. Joan Chen really impressed me with her performance. She use to be in the television series Twin Peaks and she proves in this film she is a great actress also.