Michael's Movie Grade: B+
An excellent animated film from China.
This movie tells the story of Gao Shi, a Chinese poet from the Tang Dynasty. I admit I came into this movie knowing very little about Gao Shi, but this did not ever hinder my enjoyment of this film. While there is a lot here aimed at a Chinese audience who would be more familiar with the people mentioned in this film, however it is still very accessible to those who have no familiarity. This movie is first and foremost an emotional journey and secondly a history lesson. It does not take long to become emotional connected to this story and the characters. They do not feel like historical figures at all but rather like regular normal people. This is the secret to this film. It makes people who seem like something we may read about in a history book into something much more real and tangible. At the same time the film does not talk down to its audience but instead treats them in a very intelligent and respectful manner. In fact, much of this script is very smart and takes a very intelligent look at the age-old dilemma of looking for your place in this world. Though this film is a realistic (and true) story, it still uses animation perfectly to its advantage. There is an especially wonderful fantasy sequence where one character reads one of his poems that is simply wonderful.
However I will admit that this film could have definitely used some trimming as it is much longer than it needs to be. The various attempts to add a little humor also often fall flat.
A truly excellent film and a treat for animation fans.
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