A story set in 19th century China and centered on the lifelong friendship between two girls who develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women.
What results is an episodic film that fails to do justice to the emotions at play in either story despite the best efforts of its leading ladies or Hugh Jackman’s extended cameo. Wang’s direction, while beautiful, meanders.
This rich weave of eras looks pretty, but plays to an exoticised vision of old-world China, even as it demystifies the excruciating custom of foot-binding.
An unendurable waking coma of tediousness.
A cameo from Hugh Jackman as a Mandarin-singing nightclub owner is about the only thing that livens up this generation-spanning tale of female friendship.
Visual flourishes aren’t enough to detract from a confused plot and mawkishly sentimental overtones.
For such a supposedly intense relationship, the lack of basic human chemistry between Li and Jun is all too noticeable.
It's a three-handkerchief weepie untainted by ugly politics.
China's secret 'women only' language
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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