Pali Road

Released Apr 28, 2016

1 hr. 32 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Romance

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List

55%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

99%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When a young doctor wakes up after a car accident, she learns she has a young son and is married to her boyfriend's rival. As she searches for the truth of her past life, she questions her entire existence as she discovers the meaning of true love.

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Steve C

Mental illness is real

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/20/24

Full Review

Audience Member

In my mind the movie left the question open is Neil: 1) a memory of Lily's past boyfriend, 2) the ghost of Lily's past boyfriend, 3) a being/spirit in another world that is able to connect with Lily in her dreams, or 4) a psychotic delusion? If 1 or 2, then there would be physical evidence, but there was no information from a Google search, no photos and no friends or family members remembered him, only weak physical evidence. If 3, then she has a special power to make contact with Neil via her dream-state. When they made contact the encounter usually started out happy (he is funny, happy and romantic with a bright smile). She should have been at peace seeing him and one would expect the storyline to evolve; instead, they are often in a loop of confusion ending violently. If 4, then that would explain why she often ran off crazy-like following her latest Neil-dream looking for Neil or for evidence to prove of Neil's existence. And the ring that is there or not there could be just a random piece of junk picked up on the beach along with the hoola girl statuette around which Lily has built elaborate imaginary love stories. Her friend, Amy, did mention that Lily had a major concussion (a real car wreck). We do know she is pregnant and that is accompanied by significant hormonal changes. Even if she was delusional, it was clear deep inside she wanted to be with a kind-hearted, fun-loving, funny, romantic guy, who happened to be the polar opposite of her quiet, tough, cerebral, alpha-male, husband Mitch. In her alternate reality Mitch is a jerk but in real life he often showed a concerned caring side, a good dad, husband and son-in-law. She grew up with tough, driven, reserved, traditional parents; exemplified by an obvious stiff relationship with her tiger-mom. I think she craved a completely different sensitive and exuberant life, one with emotional support and spontaneity instead of double shifts at the hospital. I think brain damage from a concussion, emotional changes from being pregnant, and being stressed from being overworked since med school to now at the hospital flipped her crazy switch to the 'ON' position. I vote psychotic delusions as her way out of an unhappy, overworked and empty life. Oops, who is the father?

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a refreshing love story for all the romantics at heart. The movie unfolds in breathtakingly beautiful Hawaii. As I watched the main character Lily trying to piece her life and memory together, I couldn't help but also asking myself what is the meaning of love and marriage. With suspense, mystery and headache, the film takes you through an emotional roller coast ride. Highly recommended!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If you are tired of the Hollywood blockbusters, this movie will be a perfect one for you! It has a little bit of everything: mystery, suspense, romance and an ending that will leave you scratching your head. Story is believable and very well put together, directing is superb and there are some scenes in the movie that take breath away. Actors were relatively unknown to me but they did an amazing job portraying their characters. Michelle Chen was especially convincing in her role of Lily, but not only she is a great actress but very hot too XD I warmly recommend this cute and unique romance to everyone with a heart. I give it an 8 star rating!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a romantic drama that will keep you guessing until the end. Michelle Chen plays a successful doctor dating an elementary school teacher Neil (Jackson Rathbone). Chen wakes up from a car accident married to her boss (Sung Kang) and no one in her life remembers Neil. All of the actors do a good job. Henry Ian Cusick as a therapist that tries to convince Chen that her life with Neil is not real is especially good. The director does an excellent job of building suspense throughout and the cinematography is top notch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I am not sure what I liked most about Pali Road- the landscape or the cast and story. It definitely made me want to plan a trip to Hawaii and soon. The way it was shot- you could almost smell the ocean. The story has a bit of a feel similar to Vanilla Sky, Memento, or Mulholland Drive but I would only say a bit of feel towards those movies because (like all those movies) Pali Road is unique. It keeps your attention and keeps you constantly guessing. Now, I am a huge fan of romance and thrills and this movie has a lot of that- so much so- I am still thinking about it even now. So if I could sum up Pali Road with out giving away any spoilers I was say- romantically haunting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Jonathan Hua Lang Lim

Director

Jackson Rathbone

Neil Lang

Sung Kang

Mitch Kayne

Michelle Chen

Lily Zhang

Henry Ian Cusick

Tim Young

Tzi Ma

Mr. Zhang

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Pali Road: Trailer 1

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Scott Marks

San Diego Reader

Credit star Michelle Chen for playing it with a straight face. Her performance alone prevents this from fully degenerating into the Lindsay Lohan vehicle it otherwise is.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 29, 2016

Full Review

Tom Keogh

Seattle Times

The lack of a strong inner conflict or neurosis for Lily ... makes the resolution of "Pali Road" prosaic, a lost opportunity.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 29, 2016

Full Review

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

As a travelogue for the green-and-blue lushness of the Aloha State, "Pali Road" has its postcard appeal, but for fans of love stories that split the mind and agitate the heart, this one is postcard-thin as well.

Apr 28, 2016

Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

The unearthly beauty of Hawaii provides the sole reason to even think of looking at this absolute mess of a psychological thriller.

May 9, 2016

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

... employs a heavy-handed approach for an overwrought script that takes itself way too seriously before the ending really flies off the rails.

Apr 29, 2016

Full Review

Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

We get the Chinese exports that are huge blockbusters, but there's clearly a market for a slight, romantic mystery that in the United States would air on the Lifetime channel.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 29, 2016

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Synopsis

When a young doctor wakes up after a car accident, she learns she has a young son and is married to her boyfriend's rival. As she searches for the truth of her past life, she questions her entire existence as she discovers the meaning of true love.

Director: Jonathan Hua Lang Lim
Executive Producer: Jon Chiew, Ricardo S. Galindez, Geng Ling, Roy Tjioe, Grace Zhang, Anthony Lim
Screenwriter: Doc Pedrolie, Victoria Arch
Distributor: Pali Road Productions
Production Co: Dadi Century, Crimson Forest Films , China Film Assist, Island Film Group, Cuixing Media Group
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Romance
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2017

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