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From Amazon.co.uk
A subtitled three-hour saga of an ordinary middle-class urban family in modern-day Taiwan, at first glance, A One and a Two might not seem the most appealing of prospects. But don't be misled: this is a film that draws you in with all the warmth and density of a good novel, and once you are past the surface unfamiliarity of Taipei society, there's nothing in this tale of a troubled family that would seem alien anywhere in the world.
Romantic stories often end with a wedding. Realistic stories are as likely to begin with one. Writer-director Edward Yang's film starts in a mass of floaty white dresses and heart-shaped pink balloons, but the smiles seem a little too effusive, the jollity feels forced. And sure enough, disaster is lurking. The seeming simplicity of Yang's narrative style conceals a subtle, intricate design. His camera moves obliquely, often holding its distance from the action, letting us take in all the elements of a scene and draw our own conclusions. Wider social implications--about modern society, about international business ethics--are hinted at, but never rammed home. By the end we realise we've been watching a microcosm of human life, with all its humour and tragedy. For all the apparent narrowness of its canvas, A One and a Two makes most British and American films feel hopelessly parochial. The Best Director Prize at Cannes was rarely more richly deserved.
On the DVD: A One and a Two comes to disc with a generous helping of extras. The original theatrical trailer, wordless and intriguing; numerous cast and crew biographies; a brief stills gallery; and, best of all, a full three-hour commentary track of Edward Yang in conversation with Tony Rayns, UK expert on Chinese-language cinema. Their discussion is relaxed and illuminating. The print, and the SR Dolby Digital sound, are clean and crisp, and we get the full 1.85:1 ratio of the original release. --Philip Kemp
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Carol H.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sometimes you will laugh, sometimes you will cry but it is highly unlikely that Yi Yi leaves you indifferent. The psychology of each character is described with subtle finesse and one empathises immediately with their feelings, ordeals, pettiness and motivations. You get so caught up in the story of this family that you wish the film would never end. It's a long time since I have been moved like this by a film. The photography and the music add to the perfection of this Taiwanese masterpiece.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mark Rosin
Format:VHS Tape
The precocious star of this piece rivals 'Little Man Tate' in his appeal and innocent genius. It's difficult not to feel an wave of hope for all of humanity.
The young child, and indeed all of the characters are sympathetic people, all battling with difficulties in life, raising complex moral and philosophical issues. Lost and confused, in each a problem is pronounced, and even as the 'omniscient' viewer you come quickly to realise that the dilemmas have no answer in any term defined by right or wrong.
Superb moments of cinematography and well acted, the culture alone would stand as the subject for a film. Yi Yi (A one and a two) earns a comfortable five stars and the number one spot in my 'Greatest film list'
The young child, and indeed all of the characters are sympathetic people, all battling with difficulties in life, raising complex moral and philosophical issues. Lost and confused, in each a problem is pronounced, and even as the 'omniscient' viewer you come quickly to realise that the dilemmas have no answer in any term defined by right or wrong.
Superb moments of cinematography and well acted, the culture alone would stand as the subject for a film. Yi Yi (A one and a two) earns a comfortable five stars and the number one spot in my 'Greatest film list'
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
A film well worth watching but requiring a lot of patience. One feels a great sense of poetry in the film-making here, although not always perfectly rendered. The music seems irritatingly trite at times and one of the plot-lines jars a little. The frequent use of long-shots and perspectives using glass windows underlines the themes of emotional distance and repression very effectively. One can read many things at many levels at these moments. But Yang does not always succeed in keeing a constant stylistic temperature. For instance, the scene where the little boy encounters the beautiful girl in the cinema. Onscreen lightning flashes. All very well done and very effective - but not quite as subtle as the majority of the film and so ultimately a scene out of place. Suddenly I felt I was watching a different movie - one made in the West. Such glitches aside, this remains an extremely insightful film into modern middle-class Taiwan with excellent performances from the entire cast. However there is a reluctance to probe too deeply into the minds and emotions of the characters. One could argue that such is oriental culture and the grammar of the film certainly supports this argument. A bitter irony in that one is often detached from these characters, as they are from each other and themselves, as the whole thrust of the film makes clear - and yet one feels a little dissatisfied in that the film so brilliantly achieves its aims ! Despite this I found it genuinely touching at the end. Let us hope that Yang remains in Taiwan (unlike Ang Lee)and provides us with more thought-provoking films instead of joining the Hollywood sausage machine.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Films like this are a rarity.Wonderful and assured direction,a absorbing script and acting which comes from the soul.This film at three hours creeps up on you and slowly takes hold but it never feels overlong or indulgent.I came away truly moved at the fact that although we are all culturally different the same problems face us all.Problems with work,familyand love.The music was wonderful too!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent movie but beware:
1. it's an A zone Bluray, official Criterion site says all their Blurays are "A" zone. Why is Amazon the only remaining site not to list the bluray zones? it's A, B, C zones not 1, 2 etc.
Yesasia in Hong Kong has been doing this for a long time. The result is that I buy my blurays from Yesasia...
2. it's not in Cantonese (where does this come from, hard to imagine!); the movie is in Mandarin Chinese and in Taiwanese Hokkien, nothing to do with Taiwanese at all. Not ONE word of Cantonese in the movie. Poor Edward Yang.
1. it's an A zone Bluray, official Criterion site says all their Blurays are "A" zone. Why is Amazon the only remaining site not to list the bluray zones? it's A, B, C zones not 1, 2 etc.
Yesasia in Hong Kong has been doing this for a long time. The result is that I buy my blurays from Yesasia...
2. it's not in Cantonese (where does this come from, hard to imagine!); the movie is in Mandarin Chinese and in Taiwanese Hokkien, nothing to do with Taiwanese at all. Not ONE word of Cantonese in the movie. Poor Edward Yang.
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