Customer Reviews

Lan Yu

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

LAN YU is a beautifully filmed, impressionistic look at a human dilemma: not recognizing what you really want until it's too late. Director Stanley Kwan has made an intelligent film that conveys genuine emotion without theatricality. There is much that rings true in this story for gay men, or anyone, of any age. Based on an incredibly popular 'E-novel' from an anonymous author, Jimmy Ngai's screenplay strikes many true chords and, along with a well-realized mise-en-scene, creates a completely believeable world.

Casting seems ideal. Thirty-something Hangdong is played with great range by Jun Hu, and he looks convincing in the part as well. Playing Lan Yu, who ages from late teens into twenties, is remarkable Ye Liu. The men meet as part of a transaction: money for sex, paid by wealthy Hangdong. The sex scenes are presented with honesty, sensuality and without ambiguity. Yet, early on, it becomes clear to both that more is going on than physicality. For a short time, they pursue a relationship. Then everything is altered by choices made by one of the men. The main part of the film, told as a memory, is the playing out of the consequences of his choice. If these characters were heterosexual, the film's plot might be dismissed as hackneyed. But with the added dynamic of male/male relations in a homophobic world and with Kwan's dream-like, often poetic directing style, we have something ultimately original and worth experiencing.

The film is presented letterboxed on the DVD and it looks very good. The often rich textures of the image come across beautifully. Also on the disc: a video interview with the director and four trailers for other gay-interest films.

LAN YU has real emotional impact and sensuality. It deserves a wide audience.

I didn't expect the emotional involvement that I developed during this film. The only other Chinese directed film I've watched involving a love story between two men was "The Wedding Banquet", which I enjoyed tremendously. This movie, however, I bought on a whim and it payed off! The story centers around a young architecture student who begins an affair with an older ,successful business man. Lan Yu, the student, is wooed with dinners, money and many superficial things (none of which are important to him) but eventually has his heart broken by Hangdong, who can't commit to a relationship that he thinks will never last. He feels that he must commit to a proper marriage with a woman, and after meeting a smart, beautiful woman that fits the bill as the perfect wife, he marries her and ends his relationship with Lan Yu. Fate, however, brings the two men together some time later after Hangdong has divorced his wife and the two become lovers again but not before Hangdong's job and personal freedom are threatened. Lan Yu, at this time, proves how deeply he loves Hangdong. I won't go further into detail about what happens from there nor will I give away the ending.

"Lan Yu" is a very good movie that people, gay or straight, should see. If you want a really good film, a great date movie, or just a really good love story, buy this film. You will not be disappointed.

I just watched this heartbreaking love story. It doesn't matter that it is gay, it is one of those films that reveals how the love of your life can be right in front of you and how you sometimes don't realize it until its too late. The guys are so handsome in this film, it just makes you realize the effect a beautiful love story can have on you!
Don't miss this one, and the DVD is gorgeous!

LAN YU is another indication that films from China are becoming increasingly poignant, less dependent on spectacle, and certainly more daring in view of the political milieu. Director Stanley Kwan not only has courage to make this poignant film, he has the gifts to create an atmospheric, gentle, quiet, and luminously photographed love story. He draws understated performances from his actors, never stooping to caricature, always respectful of the inherent delicacy of his subject matter.

Lan Yu is a handsome young gay architecture student who becomes involved with a closeted Beijing businessman. The affair they pursue is subtle yet not without passion, the kind of understated passion that rings true rather than playing for sensationalism. The plot twists and turns - Lan Yu is set aside by Hangdong for a "proper marriage" which leads to divorce and to other losses, bringing Hangdong back to seek his real love - Lan Yu. The change in their relationship speaks loudly for a wider acceptance of same sex love. To reveal the ending would be a disservice to the viewer. Part of the joy of this simple story is the sensitivity of Hangdong's colleagues in responding to his various dilemmas: there is no "bad guy", no prejudice, no castigation - these friends are committed and make homophobia seem merely a foreign, unimportant word. This film is a model of intelligent and finely crafted story telling. The actors are uniformly excellent and win our hearts. Highly Recommended.

I had no inkling what was in store for my viewing experience when I picked up this DVD out of curiosity at my local public library. Someone had stolen the case cover, so I was trying to figure out what this movie might be about. Alas, I can tell you that I didn't expect at all to see full frontal nudity of a man... in a film from China!

Well, strictly speaking this is a Hong Kong production, I suppose, and I'm sure this is an underground cult in Communist China. I can't imagine "the butchers of Beijing" would let this film run publicly, not only because of its homosexuality theme, but because of the backdrop of corruption among the party elite (what's the Russian word for that?) and the Tiananmen Square protests.

Anyway, the movie is surprisingly good. Some may find the story melodramatic or simple-minded. But as a non-gay person, I find the plot very easy to follow, the emotions very easy to believe in, and the acting superb. The actor who plays the title character is simply outstanding. He exudes both some kind of countryside manhood and yet at the same time a lot of feminine sensitivity. OK, seriously, I'm not gay, but I was totally drawn into the story and into the characters. The death of Lan Yu at the end is just very, very sad.

I'd always thought HK movies were cheesy, low-budget flicks aimed at pleasing the after-hour drunkards. Now I know better. Stanley Kwan has a masterpiece in Lan Yu. It's a movie that will touch the hearts of both gay and non-gay viewers.

Aside from the fact there's TOO MUCH SMOKING, and the lead characters could have been prettier, this was a well done movie with a little of everything: love, angst, humor, loss, tragedy, betrayal. If you're not fond of gay love, don't watch it. Otherwise, it's worth a look.

Have to say the best thing about this movie was the acting, hands down. The movie (and I guess the novel it was based on?) knows its focus, so we get a tender story about love and timing. The story's not perfect- there's a want of more characterization for supporting roles, more insight into Lan Yu's family situation, Chen's friends' lives and more info on the big time-gaps that are left, but big as those faults sound on paper you still don't really care. The story knows what it's about, and the actors give great convincing performances. definitely a tear jerker. as an American viewer i guess I also found interesting how the film used life in the States and possibility there as a plot device, so that we get the American dream and its forms showing up in Beijing during a time of economic transformation to inform the plot from a few different angles. anyway i'm glad i watched it.

To quote Ursula from the Little Mermaid "Lifes full of tough choices, isnt it?". It was just as simple yet heartbreaking and romantic. The student finally got the business man to see another side of love and even had him free himself of the closet torture but only for it to be broken into pieces. If you like movies like this, try Bangkok Love story or Second Skin

The story of the film is rather melodramatic. What makes this movie special is the acting. The director does a wonderful job getting first class performances out of the two leading men. If the role of the poor young student was replaced by an actress, the film would have worked. LIU Ye, who plays the student LAN Yu, gives an understated, subtle performance. It just fits the character so well. The young student is supposed to be shy, reserved, innocent and loyal. As for the older business man, he is sophisticated, aggressive, ruthless, yet, loving in his way. HU Jun gives a memorable performance of this complicated man with such wide range of emotions. The audience gets to know him as a real person with flesh and blood. The relationship between these two men is just so natural. Some of the scenes and lines are quite awkward, but both of them manage to pull all these off in a very natural and convincing way. I have not seen a man portrayed in such a masculine way even when he is in love with another man for a long time. The casting is just brilliant. The masculine presence of CHEN Hang Dong makes the movie different from all the other movies featuring two men together. The only other movie in which both men look so good and so manly together is "Maurice". Believe me, we girls know a manly man when we see one. The film also has a great supporting cast. The wife is almost too perfect. She is beautiful and smart, has a great sense of humor. Oh she even speaks Russian. The loyalty of Hangdong's friend is worthy of Marquis of Posa. If "Ah! Je meurs" was used at the end of the movie instead of the corny song, it would be marvelously effective. After all, Verdi wrote this most beautiful song for a man to sing to another man. Last note, it is not surprising that the original internet novel is written by a female writer. The movie is about human relationship. It should appeal to a much broader audience.

LAN YU is another indication that films from China are becoming increasingly more poignant, less dependent on spectacle, and certainly more daring in view of the political milieu. Director Stanley Kwan not only has courage to make this poignant film, he also has the gifts to creat an atmospheric, gentle, quiet, and luminously photographed love story. He draws understated performances from his actors, never stooping to caricature, always respectful of the inherent delicacy of his subject matter.

Lan Yu is a handsome young gay architecture student who becomes involved with Hangdong, a closeted Beijing businessman. The affair they pursue is subtle yet not without passion, the kind of understated passion that rings true rather than playing for sensationalism. The plot twists and turns - Lan Yu is set aside by Hangdong for a "proper marriage" which leads to divorce and to other losses, bringing Hangdong back to seek his real love - Lan Yu. The change in their relationship speaks loudly for a wider acceptance of same sex love. To reveal the ending would be a disservice to the viewer. Part of the joy of this simple story is the sensitivity of Hangdong's colleagues in responding to the his various dilemmas: there is no "bad guy", no prejudice, no castigation - these friends are committed and make homophobia seem merely a foreign, unimportant word. This film is a model of restraint and intelligent, finely crafted story telling. The actors are uniformly excellent and win our hearts. Highly Recommended!