Apart Together (2010) Poster

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8/10
Simple story well told
sharkies6927 July 2010
This one hooked me within minutes. Great storytelling using a simple premise. A man returns to Shanghai to see his wife and family after being forced to live in Taiwan for many years for political reasons.

It's amazing what you can do with basic storytelling fundamentals. Conflict, well rounded characters and heart. I wonder why Hollywood can't make films like this.

Anyways, the performances are wonderful from the entire cast, particularly the three leads. There is plenty of drama and some lovely warm and comic touches to lighten things up. I don't know a great deal about the history between China and Taiwan but this didn't effect my enjoyment or understanding of the story.

It made me think of my own family and past loves, etc. What good cinema is supposed to do.
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7/10
Time is gone, share the memories
hooraychining4 April 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Maybe I am older, have experienced accidents, close to death and had a lot of regrets in life, so this movie gives me a lot of mixed feelings. I think a few episodes below are the most memorable:

Old Mr Lu said: "I will NOT live for several years, too much money means nothing! " Mrs Yu'e said to Mr Yan Sheng when they farewell at the dock:" I don't know when I'll see you again since today's farewell. "

All these make me difficult to calm of mind and cry.

They three sat around dinner several times, all that matters to me.

They repeated references to the term "time", in Shanghai as saying "Guang Jing". Three of them live away from those happy times whey they were young, and finally got a short happy time at the end of life. The most beautiful scene, Mrs Yu'e sang a pop song of the old time which put back 50 years. Shanghai has been changed so fast, but the old time elegant and melody will stay in the memory forever.

As an audience, I am privileged to hear the three elderly actors' retro-style singing, and be shared the memories of the golden time of Shanghai.

Cai-gen Xu & Feng Ling's performance reserved and no lack of passions.

Lisa Lu is absolutely Lady Grace. Her rare singing voice, evokes the golden age of Shanghai. This scene reminds me of Rebecca Pan in Fa yeung nin wa (2000)

Xiaoqing Ma finally got the chance to go back on the big screen to show her acting skills, the role suits her very well, but director gave her space in this film is too small.

Monica Mo goes out of the shackles of femme fatale, shows a subtle and appropriate skill.
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10/10
Grandmother is torn between first love and family
donwolf2013 January 2011
The story is an old one, about the endurance of love. The grandmother who is torn between two people who love her and her heart is broken by the tug between her two lovers. Her performance was magnificent, is was that of her common-law-husband. He too is torn apart by his desire to have his wife and to have his wife be happy without him. The casting of the supporting actors was also great. I got so involved with the grandmother character that I cried a number of times when she was faced with a decision that nobody should ever face in their life time. The director weaved into the fabric of the story a fair amount of humor. Otherwise, the movie would have been depressing. However, with the humor, it became reality.
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