| Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck, who had movie adaptations of her work done before such as The Good Earth (1937) and Dragon Seed (1944). Daughter of Christian missionaries, her focus on writing about China, being somewhat of an outside view looking in, is transferred by Yim Ho (Red Dust, Homecoming) in his adaptation of Pavilion Of Women (book appeared in 1946 originally but was banned in China well into the 90s). Very much a pet project for star/co-producer/co-writer Luo Yan, the film tells the story of how Western influence can make actual, human emotions manifest themselves within a strict Chinese 1930s society, on the brink of being invaded by the Japanese. That influence is embodied by doctor/priest Andre (Willem Dafoe)...
A rich tapestry of themes and emotions...on paper, even without having read the book the treatment here feels watered down, merely ticking off the excellent content in a standard manner. Shot with fair grand style by Poon Hang-Sang (Kung Fu Hustle), Yim Ho certainly has never been about making it easy for his audience to feel but in fact, we never do outside of some tender moments between Madame Wu (Luo Yan) and Father Andre in the latter sections. Corny symbolically towards the very end as well, Yim Ho isn't necessarily out of his league here shooting in English (where all Chinese speak English naturally) but it all is felt only on the surface and makes one want to read the book only, never to touch the film again. Willem Dafoe is likeable enough and has passable chemistry with Luo Yan. Shek Sau is particularly weak as the husband, an overly clownish creation that also has the actor suffer a pretty poor dubbing job (which is strange because in the TVB series Triumph In The Skies, the actor was spouting English left and right that would've ranked as sufficient for Pavilion Of Women). John Cho and Yi Ding co-stars. |
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