wktvahey

I went to this movie not really knowing what to expect or what the story was about. Sometimes, that is the best way to be pleasantly surprised or disappointed. In this case, I was pleasantly surprised. I can't believe how little this movie cost to make. The story is solid, with elements of comedy, drama, and love that just plain work. Kevin Tsai has directed a cohesive story that never gets dull, encompassing themes of self-worth, family-ties, fantasy, and love. The pacing is even and just long enough to pull you into the story and its characters without boring you. Dee Hsu does an excellent job as the main lead and definitely has great comedic timing. When it's time for the dramatic scenes, she really knows how to switch gears into the serious moments of the film. There were sci-fi elements of the film that were definitely dreamlike. The cinematography for the non-sci-fi scenes were very grounded and palatable. This is easily one of the most enjoyable foreign movies I've seen this year and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the end of the film.

This movie is definitely not for the mainstream crowd and in a way, that's a good thing. I think it takes an intelligent person to sit down and watch this movie and appreciate it for the gem that it truly is. Showing how people interact with each other and how they react to Ryan Gosling's character when they are confronted with his new friend is an absolutely marvelous experience. These people, for the most part, are not hardened and cynical like most of the people in the world have become. Ryan's brother and sister in law are immensely supportive in their roles and as the story unfolds, we are treated to one of the most touching stories of a man who, with the help of the entire community, gradually loosens the chains of his own personal insecurities to become an adult. What a wonderful world this would be if more people reached out to others in the same way that these people did for Gosling's character, Lars.