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Zhou Yu's Train
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MPAA RATING: PG-13 for sexuality
Starring Gong Li, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Sun Honglei, and Li Zhixiong
Driven by three remarkable performances and a multi-layered narrative structure, this film reveals the intimate parallels within the folds of a love triangle. (Sony Pictures Classics)
| GENRE(S): | Drama | Foreign | Romance |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Be Cun
Sun Zhou Zhang Mei |
| DIRECTED BY: | Sun Zhou |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: November 23, 2004 Theatrical: July 16, 2004 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 97 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | China / Hong Kong |
| LANGUAGE(S): | Mandarin (with English subtitles) |
Original title "Zhou Yu de huo che"
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 5.8 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
ian m gave it an8:
I thought it was good.i agree, the plot was hard to follow, nut with the following of several characters on separate timeliness its not gonna be easy. quite a few of the shots were really very artistic and well done.
Krystyna gave it a5:
Director seems obsessed with the camera, less so with the plot. As the movie was nearing the end, I was frantically trying to make sense of the plot, but when the movie came to an end, all I could say was "huh"? I then ran for the computer and did a search for film reviews. Upon reading some reviews I was reassured that it wasn't my fault I couldn't follow the plot.
Michael B. gave it a5:
Zhou Sun directs Gong Li in dual roles in a New China soap opera. Every weekend Zhou Yu (Li) takes a long train ride to see her lover Chu Qing, a low-level bureaucrat and sensitive poet. Although we see no evidence of passion between them, Zhou Yu sacrifices family heirlooms and some of her best ceramic creations to get a book of his poetry published. Concurrently, she has a passionate affair with the rather shallow veterinarian Zhang Chiang. Neither relationship is completely satisfying to her. Chu Qing ends up as a schoolteacher in Tibet, living with a girl from his hometown who is unremarkable except for her resemblance to Zhou Yu with a different hairstyle. It seems to be a trope on the ancient belief that we each have two souls, one animal and the other spiritual. A truly great love would then demand one person who excites equal passion in both our souls.
Chad S. gave it a 4:
Even before we arrive at "The Double Life of Veronique" nonsense, "Zhou Yu's Train" wasn't working for me, largely because of Zhou Yu's (Gong Li) high-maintenance personality, which would be more compatable with an investment banker than a poet. Zhou never struck me as a romantic, and someone who would tolerate a man who generates a low income. As a result, the love affair she conducts with Cheng Qing (Tony Leung Ka Fai) never ignites, or feel the least bit convincing. When he moves to Taipei, "Zhou Yu's Train" really starts to drag, as we're greeted by scene after scene of her moping. Director Sun Zhou has some talent, but he runs out of interesting camera set-ups and angles with that damn train after Zhou Yu's sixth, or seventh trip.
Vince H. gave it a 3:
A ponderous, Wong Kar-Wei wannabe that often bores and frustrates more than intrigues. I must go back to the Wong reference mainly because this movie is so CLEARLY influenced stylistically and thematically by Wong's masterpiece "In the Mood For Love", but instead of homage it comes off more like a Tarantino-ish ripoff. A block of music that is repeated throughout, slow dreamy pan shots & close-ups and abstract compositions, etc. The only reason I give this a 3 is because Gong Li is the most beautiful woman to ever grace the planet Earth.
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