Cheap Lan Yu (DVD) (Stanley Kwan) Price

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Customer Reviews of Lan Yu

Surpised me
I had no inkling what was in store for my viewing experience when I picked up this DVD out of curiosity at my local public library. Someone had stolen the case cover, so I was trying to figure out what this movie might be about. Alas, I can tell you that I didn't expect at all to see full frontal nudity of a man... in a film from China!

Well, strictly speaking this is a Hong Kong production, I suppose, and I'm sure this is an underground cult in Communist China. I can't imagine "the butchers of Beijing" would let this film run publicly, not only because of its homosexuality theme, but because of the backdrop of corruption among the party elite (what's the Russian word for that?) and the Tiananmen Square protests.

Anyway, the movie is surprisingly good. Some may find the story melodramatic or simple-minded. But as a non-gay person, I find the plot very easy to follow, the emotions very easy to believe in, and the acting superb. The actor who plays the title character is simply outstanding. He exudes both some kind of countryside manhood and yet at the same time a lot of feminine sensitivity. OK, seriously, I'm not gay, but I was totally drawn into the story and into the characters. The death of Lan Yu at the end is just very, very sad.

I'd always thought HK movies were cheesy, low-budget flicks aimed at pleasing the after-hour drunkards. Now I know better. Stanley Kwan has a masterpiece in Lan Yu. It's a movie that will touch the hearts of both gay and non-gay viewers.

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An incredible Chinese love story....between two men!
I didn't expect the emotional involvement that I developed during this film. The only other Chinese directed film I've watched involving a love story between two men was "The Wedding Banquet", which I enjoyed tremendously. This movie, however, I bought on a whim and it payed off! The story centers around a young architecture student who begins an affair with an older ,successful business man. Lan Yu, the student, is wooed with dinners, money and many superficial things (none of which are important to him) but eventually has his heart broken by Hangdong, who can't commit to a relationship that he thinks will never last. He feels that he must commit to a proper marriage with a woman, and after meeting a smart, beautiful woman that fits the bill as the perfect wife, he marries her and ends his relationship with Lan Yu. Fate, however, brings the two men together some time later after Hangdong has divorced his wife and the two become lovers again but not before Hangdong's job and personal freedom are threatened. Lan Yu, at this time, proves how deeply he loves Hangdong. I won't go further into detail about what happens from there nor will I give away the ending.

"Lan Yu" is a very good movie that people, gay or straight, should see. If you want a really good film, a great date movie, or just a really good love story, buy this film. You will not be disappointed.

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impressive performances
The story of the film is rather melodramatic. What makes this movie special is the acting. The director does a wonderful job getting first class performances out of the two leading men. If the role of the poor young student was replaced by an actress, the film would have worked. LIU Wei, who plays the student LAN Yu, gives an understated, subtle performance. It just fits the character so well. The young student is supposed to be shy, reserved, innocent and loyal. As for the older business man, he is sophisticated, aggressive, ruthless, yet, loving in his way. HU Jun gives a memorable performance of this complicated man with such wide range of emotions. The audience gets to know him as a real person with flesh and blood. The relationship between these two men is just so natural. Some of the scenes and lines are quite awkward, but both of them manage to pull all these off in a very natural and convincing way. I have not seen a man portrayed in such a masculine way even when he is in love with another man for a long time. The casting is just brilliant. The masculine presence of CHEN Hang Dong makes the movie different from all the other movies featuring two men together. The only other movie in which both men look so good and so manly together is "Maurice". Believe me, we girls know a manly man when we see one. The film also has a great supporting cast. The wife is almost too perfect. She is beautiful and smart, has a great sense of humor. Oh she even speaks Russian. The loyalty of Hangdong's friend is worthy of Marquis of Posa. If "Ah! Je meurs" was used at the end of the movie instead of the corny song, it would be marvelously effective. After all, Verdi wrote this most beautiful song for a man to sing to another man. Last note, it is not surprising that the original internet novel is written by a female writer. The movie is about human relationship. It should appeal to a much broader audience.