One of the things I most appreciate about foreign films is the chance to learn a lot about a culture I've never been exposed to. "A Brighter Summer Day" is such a journey. Who knew the Taiwanese were so much into American music in 1961? What made this movie work was the generally fine acting from everyone involved as well as all that gorgeous scenery. They had some of the most beautiful gardens around, that's for sure. I saw the remastered full Criterion print so the colors sparkled. My lone gripe? The length of the film. At four hours it took me three days to watch. Quite a few parts were slow, too, like, snail slow. Otherwise, it's recommended viewing if you have the patience and time.
Review of A Brighter Summer Day
