It is a film that makes you work, but it is worth it if you try

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2013)

I should start by saying that I have not read this book. I have read about the book and will get round to reading it soon.
So I will say I watched this film and I believe I understood it without any knowledge of the book.
It is fair to say I did not love it the first time I watched it. It is long and has several stories that take place in different times and places, from the South Pacific to the distant future. The fact that the actors all take on various roles including men playing women and visa- versa as well as some strange accents, make it difficult to fully engage early on.
Yet it haunts- it got under my skin and into my thought process that I found myself thinking it all over as I lay in bed.
So the next morning I decided to watch it all over again! This time it had me. I loved it. There are so many things to love here. It is flawed but brilliant. The cast is first class and all of the stories work brilliantly.
It is a triumph. Jim Broadbent is superb as the old publisher, and If you don't fall in love with Doona Bae you may have no soul at all.
So do your self a favor, put your mind to work and give yourself a treat. It is beautiful film, independently funded that tries to hold its own with the blockbusters of the mega studios. While the complex are crammed full of sequels and inane superhero movies, this film gives us hope.
It has heart and soul, if it does not fully succeed, it gives it a bloody good go.
A flawed masterpiece, but a masterpiece nonetheless.