Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

A movie that is shockingly honest.It restores your faith in humanity.

I saw this movie in Cantonese ten years ago and in English last night. In a nutshell, the movie is about a young girl dying, losing and gaining hope, and finding love. The movie is well made and all the main actors and supporting actors render a very good performance, including Wai Man Chen who was only 22 years old when the film was made and has been criticized for giving an unappealing performance. I am still confused with some of the images filmed in Scotland. Nevertheless, the scenes show the skills of the cinematographer and somewhat explain the character of the overseas Chinese and Lam's decision to love, return home, and fight her illness. Although Lam dies at the end, the director in the last scene magically turns the film around into a celebration of life.

This is a beautiful little movie. Kelly Chen was very unappealing as a leukemia dying victim and one can't see what the other characters see in her in the movie. No matter, Takeshi Kaneshiro proved to be extremely endearing and touching as a simple guy who selflessly helps others and touched her life and made it worth living/dying soon for. Parts of it were kind of strange and goes no where but all of the little unfortunate characters were very meaningfully sketched too. The Scottish seaman was also effectively portrayed and although the scenes in Scotland seem not to make sense it illustrates that wherever you go, there is home. No matter where you go, you still find that you want to see the people in your own life.

Kelly Chan played her part as a woman with cancer searching for hope. She may have been the main character, but more endearing than her rigidity and hidden self-pity is Mr. Worn's (Takeshi Kaneshiro) belief in life and it's magic.A truly enchanting film. Strange and sporadic at times but wholly endearing.