Springtime in a Small Town

One of the best Chinese films of the past decade, Tian Zhuangzhuang's Springtime in a Small Town is a subtle story of thwarted love in which the characters cannot bring themselves to express their innermost desires (except through gesture, expression, and indirect communication), resulting in a tale of sublime, understated elegance and deep-rooted emotion. A remake of a much-beloved 1948 film revolving around a love triangle in a postwar provincial town, the tale begins when a young doctor from Shanghai pays a visit to his childhood sweetheart, now unhappily married to a sickly husband who has grown emotionally distant. Like ripples in a pond, the doctor's arrival sends subtle shock waves through the couple's stagnant relationship, but discretion and decency prevent passions from being indulged. Filmed in long takes and smooth, slow tracking shots by cinematographer Mark Lee Ping Bing (who also brought his masterful touch to the arthouse hit In the Mood for Love), Springtime in a Small Town holds many rewards for those who can settle into its quiet, graceful pace. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an excellent "making of" featurette and an interview with the director. Bottom line: a small but engaging extras package for a small but powerful film.] (J. Shannon)