Directed by: Jean-Jacques Arnaud
Stars: Tony Leung, Jane March
1992
France/UK
Streamed on Kanopy
In 1929 French Indochina, a French teenage girl embarks on a reckless and forbidden romance with a wealthy, older Chinese man, each knowing that knowledge of their affair will bring drastic consequences to each other.
Atmospheric period film takes its time microscopically detailing a scandalous love affair. Beautifully photographed with good performances and sumptuous production design. Tony Leung as the lover and Frederique Meiniger as the mother of the young girl are particularly memorable. Perfect narration by Jeanne Moreau. Ultimately quite moving, but, gosh, it is rather graphically sexy along the way.
