This review may contain spoilers
The basic idea isn't bad: two sisters living in a cursed family environment. The story follows their attempt to change their destiny: the younger sister gets trapped in a destructive path (drugs), while the older sister remains burdened by the weight of paying off the family's accumulated debts.
The Problem: Execution
The issue lies entirely in the execution, and several factors contributed to this:
1. Narrative Style:
I didn't like the storytelling method. The frequent use of flashbacks was inconsistent and confusing. The sequence of events didn't flow well, especially when the film shifted to the past using the "small screen," which completely ruined the rhythm of the story.
2. Logical Gaps:
There were many crucial details that should have been included but were ignored, such as:
Tian Tian’s struggles in raising the child.
How did she get pregnant in the first place?
Where was the child when the three men were looking for her?
3. Misplaced Focus on Unnecessary Details:
The film focused on things that didn't serve the core plot, like:
Over-elaborating on Fang Di’s suffering as a stuntwoman.
Repeating scenes that added nothing to the narrative.
Meanwhile, they neglected the actual events—like the downfall of the family and the father's addiction—which would have strengthened the story and made it more impactful.
4. The Ending:
The ending was absolute nonsense and completely incomprehensible. Did Tian Tian die or not? Was the final scene meant to show that she finally achieved freedom, or that she became an actress like she wanted? It was totally unclear.
5. Wasted Talent:
The acting was actually brilliant, but it was completely wasted due to poor directing and the inability to tell the story effectively.
Conclusion:
The story was good and had the potential to be much better if not for the poor direction. They simply didn't know how to tell it.
The Problem: Execution
The issue lies entirely in the execution, and several factors contributed to this:
1. Narrative Style:
I didn't like the storytelling method. The frequent use of flashbacks was inconsistent and confusing. The sequence of events didn't flow well, especially when the film shifted to the past using the "small screen," which completely ruined the rhythm of the story.
2. Logical Gaps:
There were many crucial details that should have been included but were ignored, such as:
Tian Tian’s struggles in raising the child.
How did she get pregnant in the first place?
Where was the child when the three men were looking for her?
3. Misplaced Focus on Unnecessary Details:
The film focused on things that didn't serve the core plot, like:
Over-elaborating on Fang Di’s suffering as a stuntwoman.
Repeating scenes that added nothing to the narrative.
Meanwhile, they neglected the actual events—like the downfall of the family and the father's addiction—which would have strengthened the story and made it more impactful.
4. The Ending:
The ending was absolute nonsense and completely incomprehensible. Did Tian Tian die or not? Was the final scene meant to show that she finally achieved freedom, or that she became an actress like she wanted? It was totally unclear.
5. Wasted Talent:
The acting was actually brilliant, but it was completely wasted due to poor directing and the inability to tell the story effectively.
Conclusion:
The story was good and had the potential to be much better if not for the poor direction. They simply didn't know how to tell it.
Was this review helpful to you?
