Movie No. 42 (2016): ASHES OF TIME
Ashes of Time (1994)
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Cast: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung
In Chinese (Cantonese), with English subtitles
The movie is centered on a greedy but lovelorn assassin who finds solace in a hut in the middle of the desert. There he meets different characters who pass by who will shake the comfort of his self-imposed exile. There's this blind swordsman who he convinces to carry out his contract killings. There's this girl who offers him eggs and a mule to kill his lover's killer. There's another bounty hunter he feeds before offering him a "contract." The dealings and execution of "contracts" lead them into discovering the secret of true love.
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Cast: Leslie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung
In Chinese (Cantonese), with English subtitles
The movie is centered on a greedy but lovelorn assassin who finds solace in a hut in the middle of the desert. There he meets different characters who pass by who will shake the comfort of his self-imposed exile. There's this blind swordsman who he convinces to carry out his contract killings. There's this girl who offers him eggs and a mule to kill his lover's killer. There's another bounty hunter he feeds before offering him a "contract." The dealings and execution of "contracts" lead them into discovering the secret of true love.
The movie is a visual feast, like a poetry in pictures. Practically every frame is worth preserving in a canvass. That's exquisite cinematography. Some frames are even enhanced by the equally poetic voice-over narration of the lead character. The flashbacks, although dizzying in some instances, are integral in understanding the back stories of the characters. The movie itself says significant things about human existence, highlighting love, purpose, loneliness, redemption, and existence.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: July 23, 2016
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