• Summary: Explores one man's journey, from the cutting edge of China's artistic movement in the early 90's, through a period of conflict with himself and his parents, to a mental institution and finally to the quest to rediscover himself and his family. (Sony Pictures Classics)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 19
  2. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. The total effect is mesmerizing, an eye-opening tour of modern Beijing culture in a journey of rebellion, retreat into oblivion and return.
  2. Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    60
    The entire cast is extraordinarily good -- many of them are, after all, actors by trade -- but throughout, Zhang is keen to remind his audience that this is only a dramatization.
  3. Unfortunately, the experience of actually watching the movie is less compelling than the circumstances of its making.

See all 19 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. RianneM.
    10
    This is such a beautiful movie, the music, the drama.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. PatC.
    9
    A movie devoid of imaginative devices, but otherwise fully formed. A fine story, applicable in all cultures, of a youth asserting his own devices, but finding they can't improve on a sense of responsibility to his family. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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