A domestic drama surrounding the relationships of modern-day Chinese urbanites, with the various participants intersecting at a vehicle collision. Akin to the works of Iñárritu and Arriagga, e.g. 'Amores Perros', the film portrays a series of relationships via non-sequential narratives that draw together to a climax.
Filmmaker Zhang Yang, known for his realistic and popular dramedies 'Shower' and 'Getting Home', steps away from narrow-focus narratives to explore a series of modern-day relationships and plots, at the expense of humor and in-depth characterization. These relationships/plots include a young street-racer's happenstance meeting with a deaf-mute photographer, a wealthy ex's attempt to woo (buy?) back his ex's heart, a business relationship that prompts the kindling of romance, and a husband's attempt to raise medical treatment funds for his ailing wife.
In effect, the film seeks to portray the foibles (materialism, infidelity, divorce, one-night stands, etc) of modern-day Chinese urban life, with some portrayals more cliché, and perhaps cynical, than others.
As is the case with all non-sequential narratives, especially those with a large collection of characters (with the potential for diluted/glossed over characterizations), the filmmakers endanger losing audience interest and/or empathy, but that's up to the audience to decide. All in all an enjoyable domestic drama.
Filmmaker Zhang Yang, known for his realistic and popular dramedies 'Shower' and 'Getting Home', steps away from narrow-focus narratives to explore a series of modern-day relationships and plots, at the expense of humor and in-depth characterization. These relationships/plots include a young street-racer's happenstance meeting with a deaf-mute photographer, a wealthy ex's attempt to woo (buy?) back his ex's heart, a business relationship that prompts the kindling of romance, and a husband's attempt to raise medical treatment funds for his ailing wife.
In effect, the film seeks to portray the foibles (materialism, infidelity, divorce, one-night stands, etc) of modern-day Chinese urban life, with some portrayals more cliché, and perhaps cynical, than others.
As is the case with all non-sequential narratives, especially those with a large collection of characters (with the potential for diluted/glossed over characterizations), the filmmakers endanger losing audience interest and/or empathy, but that's up to the audience to decide. All in all an enjoyable domestic drama.
