They talked openly to each other about their non-existent future, as she could never marry a Chinaman, and he was already betrothed to a woman from a wealthy family, she who he would not even meet until the wedding ceremony. Her family disapproved of what they knew she was doing, while still savoring the Chinaman's showering of money at them. As time progressed, they were more open to the world at least about having a relationship. They entered into their sexual relationship nervously if only because of the taboo associated with a relationship between races, and people of their respective ages (she telling him that she was eighteen, he telling her he was thirty-two).
He was western educated in Paris, came from a wealthy family and as such money was no issue for him, and had never worked a day in his life. That year, she began a relationship with a Chinaman, who she met on the Mekong River ferry. The girl and her younger timid brother secretly wished he was dead. The girl had an uneasy relationship with her family, largely because of her mother's inexplicable favoritism of her eldest brother, who was selfish, egotistical and thieving. Her mother and her two brothers lived in the house that came with the mother's poor paying teaching job, while she, across the Mekong River, lived in a boarding school dormitory in Saigon. The year of that story is 1929, the place southern Indochina. then see this film! It was refreshing, and we did not want it to end.An elderly French authoress, while writing her memoirs, is narrating the story of her first love. However, if you have ever travelled in Asia, if you love creative cinematography, if you enjoy small subtleties, if you like an insight into the past and a time of strong desires. If you are prudish or do not like 'foreign films', then avoid this film. Instead here is a film that is complex yet simple, both beautiful and ugly, about separateness and unions, and the sufferings of those who love but cannot love. You will not find the usual American 'formula film' composed of glitz, action, intrigue, syrupy sweetness and a predictable ending. Those harbour and river scenes were no Hollywood set or computer graphics, but just had to be the real thing: Vietnam! The reviews said 'not erotic' and 'like Penthouse'.?!? Just look beneath the surface: even though both characters are trapped in cultural barriers and subsequently repress so many emotions (especially the girl), they escape into the blissfully unreal world of the rented room where emotions run deep albeit confused. Well OK, the characters were very sad and March delivered stilted lines at times, but there was so much magic to see and hear! She sizzled. The external and newsgroup reviews did not ring true for us. Deeply evocative and so real that we nearly felt the rain and hot humidity, we were swept along on this unique journey. My wife and I were enraptured and thoroughly enjoyed this gem.
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