IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.8K
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Explores the subject of parental love and autism in kids.Explores the subject of parental love and autism in kids.Explores the subject of parental love and autism in kids.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Awards
- 11 wins & 8 nominations
Lun-Mei Gwei
- Ling Ling
- (as Lun-Mei Kwei)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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Featured review
It is hard to go from primarily western films to this, especially when so much of my context for asian cinema is in the action and kung fu or shootouts. Add to this learning that a woman director's first film, made it surprising because the film is so masterful. Of course she was bringing the most powerhouse collaborators from some of the best films of all time, the pedigree comes off like a wishlist of a film student, if asked, what would your dream movie would be like... Joe Hisaishi... Christopher Doyle... and a world renowned star subverting their whole persona. The thing is, nine times out of ten this is going to be a recipe for a disaster, and the film will fail. It will be too obvious, or too boring.
Why it works is because the tone is just right, it is both understated but stylized, the performances hits the exact right notes start to finish. I found Ocean Heaven refreshing in a timeless way, that even when I view acclaimed arthouse films of today from international directors, you know those ones that win all the awards, I do not really connect to them. They're too self-important, political, or cliche. Point is, it is difficult to achieve the right mix of elements in the voodoo process of filmmaking, something this film achieves.
That brings me to the reason everyone would talk about this, that is Jet Li's performance. If you have seen the dozens of films with him doing Kung Fu, you would not realize what a tremendous actor he is. It is unbelievable his most impressive feat is not the karate, but playing a father. He displays so much sensitivity and resilience at once. He is able to evoke a cinematic father that is impossible not to think about your own. Every gesture is elevating this movie into something far more meaningful than its modest tone. You could not imagine the movie with any other actor than Li and his son, played by Zhang When. The performance is like a masterpiece painting, from a source you didn't realize was there all along, you go of course, he is a man obsessed with excellence. I could not view his other films the same way after this, so I give props to the director for seeing what no one else saw.
Why it works is because the tone is just right, it is both understated but stylized, the performances hits the exact right notes start to finish. I found Ocean Heaven refreshing in a timeless way, that even when I view acclaimed arthouse films of today from international directors, you know those ones that win all the awards, I do not really connect to them. They're too self-important, political, or cliche. Point is, it is difficult to achieve the right mix of elements in the voodoo process of filmmaking, something this film achieves.
That brings me to the reason everyone would talk about this, that is Jet Li's performance. If you have seen the dozens of films with him doing Kung Fu, you would not realize what a tremendous actor he is. It is unbelievable his most impressive feat is not the karate, but playing a father. He displays so much sensitivity and resilience at once. He is able to evoke a cinematic father that is impossible not to think about your own. Every gesture is elevating this movie into something far more meaningful than its modest tone. You could not imagine the movie with any other actor than Li and his son, played by Zhang When. The performance is like a masterpiece painting, from a source you didn't realize was there all along, you go of course, he is a man obsessed with excellence. I could not view his other films the same way after this, so I give props to the director for seeing what no one else saw.
- ReadingFilm
- Sep 30, 2024
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Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $616,319
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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