Wo de fu qin mu qin 1999

Critics score:
89 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: Celebrates a beauty and heroism around us that we often miss in both our movies and our lives. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: A layered, delicately but surely romantic tribute to the simplicity and grace of a bygone era. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: This is a film that rescues love from the world of cliche and treats it with the awakening passion it deserves. Read more

Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News: The Road Home yields its pleasures slowly, opening in wintry black and white before ripening into a miracle. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Ms. Zhang's intensely concentrated performance conveys a current of stubborn, obsessive passion lurking behind Di's girlish wide-eyed innocence. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: The film is also a showcase for Zhang Ziyi, who is never less than enchanting. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: The film is laced with gentle humor, and its simple story is built on a sure foundation of humaneness. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: A gentle, engaging narrative of constancy and devotion against all odds. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: A moving love story that is as simple in its narrative gestures as it is rich in color composition. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Read more

Christy Lemire, Journal News (Westchester, NY): It works. It feels like a slice of life. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: A nicely realized love story. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: Zhang brings to it his masterly gift for visual composition. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Zhang Ziyi proves in her film debut what a powerhouse force she is on-screen. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: Read more

Jessica Winter, Village Voice: Yimou's strongest films always doubled as valentines to the porcelain face of former muse Gong Li, but here, reiterative beauty-worship is something of an end in itself. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Zhang Yimou focuses so frequently on Ziyi's face in extreme close-up that she sticks like a daguerreotype to your retina -- and then your heart. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: Of course, the past always looks better in retrospect, especially to those who have never done without indoor plumbing. Read more