Film Name:最好的時光 / Three Times
In the face of a beautiful love, the best time is often let down, only after years, it will be flicked out from the depths of our memories, patting the dust of a certain memory, and it becomes 《Three Times》. This film perfectly illustrates to the audience the purity and freedom of emotions, mixed with the helplessness of reality, and the time happens to stay in the good part.
With different times as the background, the film tells a love story with three lifetimes through three stories. One section symbolises love, pure and beautiful. One section symbolises freedom, dreamy and distant. The second one symbolises youth, which cannot resist the cruelty of reality. The three lifetimes of love continue each other, and eventually become the most beautiful time in the depths of memory, since then covered with the dust of the years, turning into memories between sighs.
Adapted from a true story, director Hou Hsiao-hsien chose to use three stories from different eras in 《Three Times》. He breaks through himself by using classical images and moods, together with narration, to express the inner feelings of the characters in the film. Of course, in terms of creating the atmosphere of different eras, apart from art props, it is the elegant music that adds some unique flavour to the film. The documentary film 《The Puppet Master》, which he directed, features Li Tianlu as himself, and tells the story of the historical changes over the decades, as well as paying homage to the culture of Puppet Theatre!
《Three Times》 is mainly about Shu Qi and Zhang Zhen’s three love affairs. Shu Qi plays the female lead in the film, and in the section of free dream, she is extraordinarily devoted and has some comprehension, mainly through body language interpretation of the role. Zhang Zhen plays the male lead, and he is also very serious during the filming, and can be said to be very attentive, because the lack of dialogue expression makes it more difficult to perform. In order to achieve the literary effect of the early Republican era, the director also asked the two to perform in Cantonese, with a slightly slower pace of speech, to achieve the leisurely mood of the era.
Shu Qi’s interpretation of the role is also well mastered. The rebellious girl in the first segment is slightly worse in characterisation, while the classical style in the second segment is simply stunning. She is indeed beautiful to look at, and she also manages to radiate beauty from the inside out. Shu Qi has always been known for her sexiness, and her starring role in 《If You Are The One》 has touched many viewers. Zhang Zhen’s acting is also great and fits well with Shu Qi. His manliness is unique and he easily masters his role while having a good interpretation of the character. Zhang Zhen started his career as a child actor and his earliest film was 《Helpless Taste》.
In the view of the audience, the best thing is nothing but falling in love, pure and beautiful. And the love that aspires to youth and freedom, although the process is more fascinating and the realisation is difficult, it does not hinder our pursuit of love!
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