Review of Autumn Spring (2001) by Matthew G — 07 Jul 2009

I know that I am meant to think of this film as heartwarming--all the critical reviewers have told me so--and the main character as an inspirational example of a life lived on one's own terms. To me, however, it is a reminder of what a disaster life would be if we lived solely in the present, without consideration of the future. I find it hard to celebrate a character who is so careless of the harm his ego-fulfillment has upon others, especially those closest to him. Maybe his wife wouldn't have to be such a scold if her husband wasn't stealing from her and lying to her all the time.

On the other hand, it was a nice illustration of how a person's most irritating qualities can sometimes be what endears them to us.