Lü de shui

Before you press play on "Lv De Shui," a little context might just transform your viewing experience. This film, at its heart, is the tragedy of a Chinese feminist in the 1940s-but it's also so much more.

Due to some less-than-ideal English subtitles and a few critical cultural gaps, here's what you should know to fully appreciate this layered story:

Set in rural mountainous China during the turmoil of WWII, the narrative unfolds far from the battlefields-yet far from simplicity. A group of idealists, each escaping their own urban struggles, establish a village school with a noble dream: educating every child in the countryside (think China's version of "No Child Left Behind").

But idealism soon collides with reality. The school relies on a black donkey-Lv De Shui, named for its life-sustaining task of carrying water across a treacherous 10-kilometer path. When funding for the donkey is denied, the teachers invent an imaginary English teacher under the same name, diverting his "salary" to cover their essential water carrier.

The plot thickens when a government inspector arrives to evaluate Mr. Lv De Shui... and that's all we can say without spoiling the story.

Visually, the film carries an almost theatrical elegance-each frame thoughtfully composed, each edit intentional. The performances are raw and convincing, pulling you into the moral whirlwind of its characters. A special nod goes to cinematographer Jong Lin, whose bold and poetic use of color turns landscape and emotion into art. And the theme song? Unforgettable.

"Lv De Shui" is an ambitious film. It raises difficult, timeless questions: Do the ends justify the means? How far is too far? When does compromise become corruption? Is it better to strive and fail-or never strive at all? What gives us the right to judge another's choices?

It critiques how easily people bow to power and how righteousness often comes with a price. It's also, on a personal note, a story about truth and courage-being honest with oneself and brave enough to stand up, even when the world pushes you down.

Give it a watch. You won't just like it-you'll remember it.

A surprisingly politically daring movie made by China's foremost comedic group, Kaixin Mahua. The characters, who are all caricatures of modern society individuals elevate the simple premise of making a donkey into a teacher so they could get more funding is anything but simple. The principle who wants to do the right whatever the cost, the freedom seeker who is taken advantage of, the loyal servant who bows to reality, the turncoat or even the simpleton are all trying to survive in a deceitful situation where they have no control over. Is the film funny? Not comparing to other Mahua Production films, but it is deeper in its meaning and less sappy. The film is a great parody of modern society China where lies just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

The first half is a comedy and the second half is a tragedy. And to a certain extent, it ironically reflects the problems that China has been facing.

The first thing to say is that this is a tragedy, first and foremost, with some comic elements.

Because it seems to be described in many places as a comedy movie, which, along with the whimsical movie poster, might give you this impression that this is a going to be a feel-good experience. But no; while it has some funny jokes, they basically finish up by the middle of the movie and the rest is just a succession of appalling things being said and done.

It's a morality tale; some relatively relateable characters start by telling white lies for the greater good but end up digging themselves into ever worsening problems.

And herein lies the main issue I have: you can have a comedy movie where everything goes wrong: a black comedy. But if there's no humor and you're making an outright tragedy, then you need some other elements to sustain such a story. Here, it feels like they make a point by the end of the first act, and then that point just gets repeated, more and more painfully, through the second and third acts with little entertainment value.

The 4 stars are because the acting is very good.