Leaf

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Audience Member [b]Chinese/French film[/b] [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/clear_dot.gif[/img][ [url="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=100003027&view=public&uc=14416"][color=#930079]Lesbian Films[/color][/url] , [url="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=100003027&view=public&uc=14418"][color=#930079]Foreign Films[/color][/url] ] [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/58/247858.jpg[/img]This haunting tale of love and art crosses the borders of nationality and culture, following two women who discover a transcendent bond. Meihua (Youxin Yang) is a Chinese painter who travels to Paris from her home on the Yangtze River. There, she meets Stephanie (Sabine Bail), a photographer with whom she shares many of the same ideas about life and art. The two women's admiration for one another's work eventually escalates, but the pull of disparate cultures might prove to be too much to overcome. Forced to make a decision between exploring their love and her traditional background, Meihua must examine the very foundations of her identity, and makes some startling discoveries along the way. [size=3][b]Chinese artist goes to Paris to work on her art & meets this French photographer who shares her passion for art. Their love for art allows them to develope a rapport, although the language barrier makes it very difficult for them to communicate in the beginning, until Stephanie helps teach Meihua french. Stephanie falls for Meihua, who has a Chinese fiancee and sees her new friend's lesbianism as an "illness". A strange love triangle begins, and Stephanie at first tries to get Meihua away from her fiance. Interesting insight on how different cultures percieve homosexuality and how this affects one's ability to be in touch with one's own sexuality. Eventually Meihua realizes she does love Stephanie, but it's a bittersweet reunion, and not exactly a happily ever after story, at least not for the two women as a couple. Stephanie's love for Meihua allows her to sacrifice thier relationship & give her up to the life that she thinks Meihua would be happiest in.[/b][/size] [size=3][b]Independently made film, won several awards at film fests. In Chinese & French w/ english subtitles.[/b][/size] [size=3][b]Some of the acting, in particular the guy who plays the threatened fiancee, isn't exactly top par, and the story doesn't seem to flow very smoothly in some places. But I was impressed that this film was written, produced & directed by the lead actress of the film, Youxin Yang. [/b][/size] [size=3][b]As her charactor concludes her tale of this affair, her summary remark that "love transcends gender" is really the core message of the film.[/b][/size] Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Leaf

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