From: tt300zx@milton.u.washington.edu (twin turbo 300zx)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.godzilla,rec.arts.movies,alt.fan.letterman
Subject: Re: Movie Review: "The Lover" -- Article
Date: 27 Dec 92 06:12:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Dec27.061204.14773
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle


Thanx to those who have posted reactions in regards to the movie:
'The Lover'. Here is an article found on Seattle Chinese Post about
this movie.

"The Lover" -- A haunting movie about forbidden passion (by Susan Cassidy)
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        This movie is starring famous Hong Kong actor Tony Leung and British
actress Jane March.

        "The Lover" is a story adapted from marguerite Duras' highly
acclaimed novel.  Told from the point of view of a 15-year-old girl living
in poverty in 1929 French colonial Vietnam with her mother and 2 brothers
--one much loved, the other reviled -- this is the story of her first love
affair.

        Sent to a girl's school in Saigon much of the year, the girl is long
away from a family whose relations are strained by a mother's too much love
for her oldest son, and his growing addiction to opium.  It is a family tied
together by its own violence and violent fear of one another.  The girl wants
to kill her older brother in order to protect her frightened younger brother,
and to take the object of her mother's love away from her.

        It is this girl who is spotted by a wealthy Chinese man while crossing
Mekong River by ferry.  She, traveling by bus, now stands at the railing 
wearing her distinctive hat, a man's fedora.  After moments of building 
tension, the Chinese man leaves his car and joins her at the rail.

        He fumbles for something to say.  She calmly looks out over the
river.  He is made awkward by his obvious attraction to her, but also by
social taboo of the day.  Asians and Occidentals do not mix.

        This meeting is their introduction to one another, and it is fraught
with sexual tension.  He invites her to ride with him to Saigon, she accepts,
and the long journey climaxes with a desperate hand clasp.

        Thus begins their passionaate love affair.  It is played out in his
"bachelor's" apartment, reserved for such affairs.  When he wavers because
of her age, she makes the first move.  She is a willing partner in their
affair, and has no temerity regarding his Chinese heritage.

        Though neither allow social mores to interfere with their relaitonship,
they are always aware of it, and speak often of the reality it presents.  Both
know that there is no future.  The girl's callousness about his being Chinese  
and therefore inappropriate for her, is often painful for the Chinese lover.

        But he puts up with her words, even a pricey evening with her family
where he suffers their bigoted, boorish behavior.  Only this time does he lose
his temper -- striking her and taking her forcibly -- and even this doesn't 
jeopardize their relationship.

        He suffers her treatment because he is the one who loves the most.
Throughout their affair, in the face of his love, she never gives voice to
her own.

        Their meetings are many, and the community eventually takes note, 
leaving the girl spurned by schoolmates.  Her mother makes special arrangements
at school in order to make the affair possible.  Her motivations are mercenary,
and she tries to convince herself that her daughter is doing it only for the
money, that she couldn't possibly love this Chinaman.

        The unrelenting heat of Vietnam plays a profound role throughout the
film.  It is a character no less than the two lovers themselves.  It is as 
tangible as their desire.

        The Lover is beautifully filmed, and is true to the book's story,
intent, and mood.  It has a foreboding quality to it, of tragedy, and worse
yet of a life denied passion.

        Filmed in Vietnam, under difficult circumstances, the film creates
impeccably the place and time in which the girl lived.  One wonders how much,
if anything, has changed since 1929 on the Mekong River.

        This is a unique look at interracial relationships.  Though cast in
1920s, we wonder how little the reality of such relationships, like the
Mekong, has changed.

        While it is that, it is also the story of a girl and how she grows
up -- at the hands of a lover, and within the brutal confines of a devastated
family and poverty.

        All the players are remarkable, and the writing impeccable and sparse. 
This is a film worth seeing, and one which will haunt you for some time.

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        Indeed, the movie is already out on videotape in Chinese version
(I just rent it!) but the English version is probably not out yet. 

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        Merry X'mas and Happy New Year.....home watching movies...../tt300zx