介绍:
2013 has seen many Chinese actors try their hand at directing for the first time. Of these, Charlie Yeung is one of the more interesting.
While most first-time directors tap the market's demand for nostalgia or bemoaning the bygone of their own youth, the Taiwan-born director has chosen a more serious topic. In courtroom drama "Christmas Rose", Kwai Lunmei plays a handicapped piano teacher who accuses a famous surgeon of sexual harassment. Zhang Zhen plays the surgeon and Aaron Kwok is the public prosecutor who does everything he can to incriminate the accused, only to discover the case is not as simple as it first seemed.
The story develops in multiple suspense-filled steps according to court procedure. Many details are explained in flashbacks during the trial.
The theme is unusual for a Chinese film, so the story has potential, but regrettably fails to fulfill. For example, suspect Doctor Zhou's character is incomplete. Despite efforts to show the impact of the case on his family, this doesn't develop into a compelling part of the main plot. Kwai Lunmei clearly worked hard to portray a disabled victim, but the twist at the end is a little too much. Aaron Kwok, on the other hand, conveys a powerful performance of emotional development.
In fact, Aaron Kwok and Kwai Lunmei's performances clearly show the movie's failings are not due to the cast, but the story itself. Despite this the pacing works well, with each stage well-timed to maintain interest, so perhaps the assistance of producer Hark Tsui finally paid off.
Compared with other directorial debuts, such as "So Young" by Zhao Wei and "Tiny Times" by novelist and businessman Guo Jingming, Yeung's movie is more personal and thought provoking. Instead of being trapped in nostalgia or watching a meaningless display of wealth, audiences may enjoy a little intellectual stimulation about something other than the contents of their dinner.
"Christmas Rose" deserves a six out of ten.
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