Review of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) by Shira P — 30 Jul 2008
This one will make you hungry. Ang Lee can generally be counted on for a quality movie-watching experience. Eat Drink Man Woman is no exception. I just watched Ride with the Devil the other day, and this film is certainly worlds away from that, going from an epic, picturesque story about young men in the Civil War to something less grand and even more personal (Though RwtD was personal enough in its focus on its characters, Eat Drink Man Woman simply focuses even more centrally on character relationships.
) in this simple, complicated story of a family - an old chef and his three daughters in Taipei - their failures to communicate, and the way relationships transform their lives. The cinematography is good in this as well, though it doesn't - and doesn't need to - rely on sweeping shots of grand landscapes to set the scene.
It takes us to the characters' workplaces, their homes, neighborhoods, right down into everyday life in modern Taiwan. There's no glamorizing for the camera - just an admirably honest depiction, and that honesty is a big part of what drives the story, its realism.
You can believe the relationships between the characters, the odd, comical twists and turns, and in the end, you can't help but sympathize with them for everything they go through - both the nice and the not so nice.
Everybody in the cast plays their role well, and on the whole, the film's a strong, thoroughly enjoyable experience. The food again deserves a special nod for its place as an unspeaking additional character in the main cast - Eat Drink Man Woman will make your mouth water over the feasts you see on screen throughout the film.
It serves its role well in complementing the film's main theme - that love is as important necessary in human life as food and drink. It's what drives us and gives our lives meaning. If you're a fan of family dramas, Chinese cinema, Ang Lee films, or even simply cinema in general, be sure to check this one out.
It's no action-packed blockbuster, but it's a very good, honest work of cinematic storytelling with a great set of characters drivi.
This review of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) was written by Shira P on 30 Jul 2008.
Eat Drink Man Woman has generally received very positive reviews.
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