For my film review, my wife convinced me to finally watch "Crouchin Tiger, Hidden Dragon". This has been a topic of much discussion in my household since I generally do not favor commercially successfull films.
I was suprised to learn, first of all, that this film had a surprisingly "small" budget of slightly less than 20 million dollars. It is currently the most profitable foreign language film ever produced.
I would like to evaluate this film based on its displays of love and romance. I was immediately struck my the two love stories that are portrayed in this film. The young girl, and her bandit boyfriend, as well as the wise warrior and his long lost friend. Both of these relationships end in disaster, yet their passion is displayed in only vry subtle manners.
It is my assumption that Chinese film is not as liberal with displays of affection as are their American counterparts. Bare skin is rarely displayed, but much is implied through the small amount that is shown. Kisses are, shall we say, moderate and never too lengthy. This modesty gives the film a sense of class that most American films lack. Our outward view of sexuality contrasts sharply with this films private sense of romance. It is sa refresging standard for films. In the end the passion of both these relationships emergesa strongers precisely because it is displayed through inhibition and not through outward sexuality.
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