Beautiful, sad and complex

Rating: 10/10 (23 November 2007)

This is one of those movies where once I finished it I wasn't able to talk about it except to say that it's one of the most beautiful and sad movies I have ever seen.
There are lots of negative reviews for this movie, and I can understand why. It seems like nowadays movies should leave one with a neat package with all the answers when the credits roll at the end, and this movie is not like that at all. There is no plot exposition in the movie, no explanation, no free ride. One has to work through the movie, the acting, the symbols and make up his own mind. The images are beautiful, the story is heartbreaking, and the pacing while slow is simply perfect.
So if you are looking to spend an hour and a half watching pretty visuals and to end up with an easy explanation for what you have just seen, do not watch this movie, it will frustrate you. But if you want to watch a beautiful parable about life, love and death and are not adverse to actually thinking while watching a movie, watch this, it will leave you speechless. This is a classic that will still be watched for years to come by those who enjoy intelligent cinema.