wzinsm This story of lesbian love in a culture that forbids it is sensual and erotic without being uncomfortably graphic. It's also slow-moving, so if you're watching just for the physical stuff, be prepared to wait a long while and then be disappointed. The cinematography is beautiful and the gradual build-up makes the romantic feelings seem more real. If you're bothered by a little male-bashing, avoid this film, because to say that both the male characters are unpleasant jerks is putting it mildly. However, interactions with the men serve to expand the story a bit beyond just the relationship between the women. I recommend this film if you can be patient with the pace.

azure_833-1 One of the most bizzar but at the same time beautiful movie I have seen in a while... The movie started out with a mixed blood orphan in rural China at the end of culture revolution some time end of 60s beginning of 70s, was sent to a remote village as an intern to a crazy old botanist.initially I thought this movie had real potential, a mixed blood girl in the craziest time in Chinese history is bound to tell a unique story. but that was only a beginning, the film suddenly turned into a lesbian movie!! a most pleasant surprise indeed, the movie is bizzar and makes little sense, but definitely is unique and beautiful. not to mention the breath taking scenes from the tropical south China.by the way, anyone knows what language was the film originally shot in? I saw the Chinese version, but the dialogues seem to be dubbed and unatrual...

chicagoan I suppose this movie is trying to tell us how 2 women genuinely in love been punished by the society that does not tolerate it. But I have to admit I'm not convinced at all. It's just too fake. The plot moves forward through awkward twists. Characters are so inadequately developed, all ended up as one-dimensional people. The tragic ending is so out of proportion and out of logic.The story is set in southern China. All the movie used are just superficial culture symbols to make this representation. This is not real China in early 1980's(which it seems the story is set in). As someone grew up during that time in China, I have to say it doesn't capture the real feel of that time.Exploring a similar theme, Brokeback Mountain shows how to do everything right, and this one shows how to do almost everything wrong, except some nice landscape shots of southern China.

michou580 It, s a little bit sad to compare this movie with the previous project from director Dai Sijie. But the ingredients are the same, the photography, the decor, the ambiance, even the literature of Balzac is replace with the knowledge of plants. This story of love between two women in 70's China who do anything to be together forever is quit magical if you know than the director was inspire by a real story in China in the early 80's. The character are well written and the build up of the story ( a little bit slow ) is well made. The only thing that spoiled the movies is the love scene between the two girls . They are too long and too often ( OK we know they are in love ). If you put that aside than this movie have some chance to win the competition at the world film festival of Montreal ( That's where i saw it ). So don't expect " Balsac et la petite tailleuse chinoise ", instead enjoy an unusual love story in a rough time China.