Review of Broken Blossoms or The Yellow Man and the Girl (1919) by Lauren - — 13 Jun 2007

Before I start I would like to say that I have never and will never judge a films artistic and cinematic merit based on what I know of anyone else?s beliefs even if on occasion I do not agree with them at all and find them quite despicable and offensive.

Blossoms is the story of two utterly desperate people one a Chinese immigrant trying to spread the word of peace and tolerance through Buddhism, the other is an illegitimate 15 year old girl who is terrorised daily by her father. Both are lonely tragic souls floating through life on the grimy and dangerous streets in turn of the century London, it?s a brutal unforgiving world and in each other they find a small slice of solace.

This silent film is the epitome of poetry on screen, with the use of soft camera work, beautifully designed sets and the subtle use of light, the entire film has a dreamy quality and the atmosphere is soaked in sadness and heartbreak, the spectator can not help but be moved by the tragedy unfolding before them.

The astonishing thing about this particular film is the themes it addresses; in a short period of time questions are raised about child abuse, racism, religion, personal faith and the rights of women of their own femininity and identity.

Broken Blossoms is a tender film that challenges the injustices of the world and does so with beauty and elegance.

The two leads (Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess) are also extraordinary through out the film and give fantastic performances, though some may be uncomfortable with a white man playing a Chinese immigrant.