The ethereal private moments and inspired passages are beautifully shot by Jean-Marie Dreujou, but Dai never quite organizes the material dramatically, and the tone is too often jagged and disruptive.

| Mar 18, 2010

A dullish though quite watchable lyrical coming-of-age love triangle drama set in the 1970s during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

| Original Score: C+ | Mar 24, 2008

Anyone expecting something either insightful or unusual will be disappointed.

| Mar 1, 2007

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 30, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 12, 2006

will appeal primarily to literary and artistic mentalities

| Original Score: B | Jan 23, 2006

The film is episodic, and most of the scenes are evocative and charming.

Full Review | Jan 12, 2006

Seamstress doesn't inspire the same kind of fervent devotion its principals feel when confronted with art, but it does make a pleasant enough diversion.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 11, 2005

A number of memorable set pieces illuminate the world around this subdued romantic triangle.

| Original Score: B- | Dec 2, 2005

Skillfully done...but the broader historical context may make one just a tad queasy reveling in its visual and emotional excesses.

| Original Score: C+ | Nov 26, 2005

[A] tribute to the transforming power of books.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Nov 23, 2005

Beautifully photographed, Balzac is a sometimes edgy journey that lands gently, but effectively on the mind.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Nov 19, 2005

A nifty little film about the powers of culture and the humanities.

| Original Score: B+ | Nov 17, 2005

[A] big, beautifully photographed and somewhat mushy film.

| Nov 11, 2005

The three main characters make a fabulous threesome - they settle into a very comfortable arrangement even though you can feel the sexual tension just under the surface.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 9, 2005

The movie may lose some of its bite when translated from page to screen, but it still delivers a valid message. When one of the boys starts reading good literature, life takes on new meaning.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 21, 2005

Offers its share of little pleasures, but falls short of the greatness to which it aspires.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 17, 2005

A funny, sad and absolutely lovely film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 14, 2005

The real star here is the Chinese landscape, which is lush and inviting. Cinematographer Jean-Marie Dreujou and his crews have done a good job of capturing its beauty.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 14, 2005

Sometimes the movie is a bit too gentle, moving at an energy-sapping pace, but one must respect Dai's ability to put criticism of Maoist doctrine onscreen at all.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 14, 2005