Customer Reviews

TURN LEFT TURN RIGHT

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

 

 

Ah, fate. Are our lives just a random series of coincidences that bring us to a certain point or is there some sort of cosmic power that can bring two individuals together. For John Liu and Eve Choi there seems to be something more out there, a something that, although at times seeming to keep them apart, wants them to be together. John Liu, Kaneshiro Takeshi, main desire I to play his violin professionally, but in an age where music producers want a more "pop" sound, his musical tastes are a bit antiquated. The same could be said of Eve Choi's love for Polish literature and poetry. A gifted translator who is thoroughly fluent in Polish, she wants to bring to the Chinese speaking world lovely bits of poetry about love. However, her editor desires for her to translate ghost stories instead. A highly imaginative woman, these ghost stories scares her witless even causing her to move from her old home and move into an apartment next to John's.

One day in the park, while John is reading over some music and Eve is reading over a translation, the two notice each other and soon John aids Eve pick up some of her scattered pages of work that have unfortunately blown into the water. John's music pages also fall into the water and after they are retrieved, the two air them out to dry and introduce each other to their artistic accomplishments. Soon the two realize, after a flashback that they met each other some 13 years before, and, although John had given Eve his phone number, she lost it when she left her bag on the train. The two exchange phone numbers, but these numbers also become smudged in a rainstorm and are unable to contact each other. Will they be able to meet again? And how strong are their chances of success when a hyper active doctor and a callous pigtailed waitress come into the mix.

Although I mainly watch films that are quite socially engaged, I am also a sucker for romantic comedies and while this film is quite beautiful in some parts, it is also quite cheesy. However, I like cheese and there are a number of times in this film in which the viewer can't help but smile. It is a perfect Saturday afternoon film that allows one to relax and helps provoke a few thoughts about the sequences of events that brought one in contact with the ones they care for.

I read the original graphic novel (in Chinese) when I met my wife. It is a beautiful story with very detailed and moving images (the artist/author is from Taiwan) and now it always reminds me of the romance and emotions in my life at that time.

The film adaptation is surprisingly faithful to the original -- although the doctor and waitress do not exist in the original story, everything that was in the original -- including ALL the images! -- appear in the film, accurately. Another thing in the film that doesnt appear in the book is the part about the student ID number, but again this is a good addition -- who would have thought that the image of someone shouting out a 7-digit number on a city street would be so moving?!

The ending of the film is slightly different to the book, but is done that way in order for the final image of the book to be possible (you will understand if you see the book images). I also like the way that the book does not explicitly tell you they live happily ever after... until the final back inside page, where you see a small picture of the two umbrellas resting together. Beautifully understated.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes romances.

In short, this film will give you insulin shock with how sweet it is. It's a romantic comedy in the classic Asian tradition. Two people are meant for each other and - time and time again - miss each other by inches. Fate keeps sending them in opposite directions and on a series of near misses. It's a fairytale and so light it will have you floating above your sofa after you finish watching it! It has some really silly comedic moments in it as well. Fans of When Harry Met Sally or Sleepless in Seattle type movies will dig this for sure. It helps if you are familiar (and prepared for) Asian film stylings as well. If you like romantic comedies, pick this up. You'll like it.

This is an adorable love story about two people who are destined to be together, and are always in the same vicinity, but never meet. One, a violinist, lives in one flat while his neighbor, the translator, lives in the next flat over. They both leave for their respective jobs in the morning, but never meet because when they leave, one turns left and the other turns right, hence the name of the movie. Kaneshiro-san is an amazing actor, and nails his character perfectly. It's a must-see for those who are suckers, like me, for a romantic comedy.

I watched this in a Chinese class. My classmates and I all loved it. It reminds me of Amelie, because it's so quirky.