Zi shu

Oh. My. God.

I can hardly believe what I just experienced. My Chinese friend recommended this to me, and I honestly went in with no expectations-just casual curiosity, the kind that makes you press play or flip a page thinking, Let's just see what this is about. But now? Now I'm sitting here with my heart cracked open and my eyes full of tears, completely overwhelmed. All I can say is: what an absolute work of art.

Seriously, what a work of art.

It's rare that something reaches so deeply into your soul that you're left speechless-and yet bursting with things you want to say. This story did exactly that. I feel like I've just come back from a journey I didn't know I needed to take. It was beautiful. It was gut-wrenching. It was transcendent.

There's a kind of magic when a story unfolds in front of you and it doesn't just entertain-it changes you. This wasn't just a piece of media; it was a living, breathing thing. Every scene was painted with such care, every word felt carefully chosen, and the emotion? God, the emotion. It didn't feel scripted. It felt like life-raw, messy, exquisite life. The kind that makes your chest tighten and your throat ache and your soul whisper, I've felt that too.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be one of the most moving things I've ever seen or read. I laughed. I cried. I sat there in stunned silence. I rewound parts. I paused just to process. I whispered "no way" under my breath and covered my mouth during certain scenes because I was just so overwhelmed. And when it was over? I didn't want it to be. I just wanted to sit there with it a little longer, breathing in the silence it left behind.

The characters felt like real people-people I now somehow miss, even though they were never really mine to begin with. The way their relationships unfolded, the quiet moments, the grand, emotional climaxes-it was all so... human. So real. So deeply touching. I'm still in awe.

And don't even get me started on the visuals (or the prose, or the cinematography, or the music). Everything felt intentional, poetic, even lyrical. There's a softness to the storytelling that wrapped around me like a blanket, even when it hurt. Maybe especially when it hurt.

I genuinely think this story will stay with me for a long, long time. It imprinted itself on me. Like a scar-but the good kind. The kind that says: you were here, you felt something important, and you're changed because of it. I'll probably find myself thinking about it in quiet moments, or dreaming about scenes, or hearing lines echo in my mind days, weeks, even months from now.

To the creator(s): you've done something extraordinary. Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing it with the world. Thank you for letting us see ourselves, our dreams, our heartbreaks, and our hopes reflected in your story.

To my friend: I owe you. Big time. Thank you for putting this into my screen. I'll never forget it.

Wonderful.

Wonderful.

WONDERFUL.

If I could bottle up the feeling this left in me and keep it forever, I would. It's one of those rare things that reminds you just how powerful stories can be. And all I can say, from the deepest part of my overwhelmed little heart, is: thank you.

Oh my god.

I' ve watched many LGBTQ related movies, but none of them have touched me like this one. Why? The two leading actresses Carina Lau and Charlie Young are deeply convincing in their slowly developing affection towards each other. It's not about passionate love scenes or other physicalities, it is far beyond these superficial themes just to catch the viewers attention. It is about loyalty, tenderly caring for the other, feeling pain in your heart, as you see your partner suffered. That one scene as Foon applied medicine on Wan's bruised back (as a consequence of a torturing by a man) and she unconsciously shed a tear on her back, Wan instantly turned around and gently wiped the tears out of Foon' s face was a fondly memorable scene to me.

Of course this movie has its flaws, e.g. that subplot in the presence is temporarily even annoying, especially Theresa Lee's role as a lovesick brat. But nevertheless I' ll give this movie a 10, because that story between Wan and Foon is so beautifully portrayed, that it touched me profoundly and I am pretty sure that this movie will be forever on my favorite movies list.

The arc of this film is compelling and the central love story so tender that my heart warms at the memory of it. However the secondary actors' work and their scenes are sometimes ragged and unsure. I am not sure why this is but it is. It is almost as if a second director handled those chores. The scenes between the two main characters are so delicate and precise, and the love scene so passionate (even though very short) that I am surprised by the film each time I've viewed it. Carina Lau and "Charlie" Yeung are completely convincing in their devotion to one another.

There is even a clever "mystery" woven into the storytelling mode. I own a VHS of this 117 minute version.

I understand a director's cut version of 162 minutes is the "real thing" and I suspect it is even better than this HK censor's cut. I have been trying to buy a director's cut but cannot find it. If anyone reading my words knows how I can get hold of the longer version please let me know.

This film poses the unstated question: "Can committed mature love ever be wrong?" and it answers with a resounding "NO!". Very enlightened and humane story and I wish there were more of them. As a happy resident of the enlightened "Bay Area" I was delighted in my surprise that this film came out of China (HK).

I have never been more moved and affected by any other movie. I think it was an excellent movie which subtly portrays their love for each other. There should be more movies of this sort out there!

Intimates (1997) is a Hong Kong drama film directed by Jacob Cheung and starring Carina Lau, Charlie Yeung, and Theresa Lee. The film tells the story of two women, Foon and Wan, who fall in love during World War II. The film's storytelling is chaotic and the plot lacks credibility, but the casting is good and the film does a decent job of depicting the challenges faced by women during the war.

The film's storytelling is chaotic and the plot lacks credibility. The film jumps back and forth between the past and the present, and it can be difficult to keep track of who is who and what is happening. The plot is also full of coincidences and contrivances, and it is hard to believe that some of the events in the film could actually happen.

However, the film does have some redeeming qualities. The casting is good, with Carina Lau and Charlie Yeung giving strong performances as the two lovers. The film also does a decent job of depicting the challenges faced by women during the war. The film shows how women were often forced to take on traditionally male roles, and how they had to deal with the trauma of war.

Overall, Intimates is a flawed film, but it does have some redeeming qualities. The casting is good, and the film does a decent job of depicting the challenges faced by women during the war. However, the storytelling is chaotic and the plot lacks credibility. If you are looking for a well-made and believable film, then you will probably be disappointed with Intimates. However, if you are interested in a film that explores the themes of love and loss, then you may find something to appreciate in this film.

Here are some additional thoughts on the film:

The film's title, Intimates, is a bit misleading. The film is more about the love between two women than it is about the intimacy between friends.

The film's setting during World War II is interesting, but it is not fully explored. The film could have done more to show the impact of the war on the lives of the characters.

The film's ending is somewhat ambiguous. It is unclear whether the two main characters end up together or not.

Overall, Intimates is a film with potential, but it is ultimately a bit disappointing. The film's strengths (good casting, interesting setting) are outweighed by its weaknesses (chaotic storytelling, implausible plot). If you are looking for a well-made and believable film, then you will probably be disappointed with Intimates. However, if you are interested in a film that explores the themes of love and loss, then you may find something to appreciate in this film.