Hong Kong, 2006.158mins.Įxcruciatingly long and exceedingly over-sentimental,Patrick Tam's After This, Our Exilelooks like a daytime soap, save for a couple of torrid love scenes which may beits best achievement. He sees an old man at a distance one day, who could be Dad.Dir: Patrick Tam. Years later, boy, now a young man, tries to look for Dad. As if a sign of reconciliation, Boy asks Dad to come closer to him and all of a sudden he sinks his teeth into Dad's ear. Dad comes to visit him months later and tries to beg for Boy's forgiveness. Boy ends up in custody and in an orphanage. Without means to repay the gambling debts, they can only steal their way out. Deeply hurt, Boy goes back to stay with Dad. Upset by Dad's new romance, Boy tries to turn to Mom but only to find Mom remarried and expecting a child. Dad sinks further into gambling debts and drags boy in. Addicted to gambling, Dad eventually loses Mom who runs away for a new life, leaving boy behind. 'This film portrays the relationship between Dad and Boy, an eternal tale of Father and Son. Luckily I stopped before I got too far, but some of the damage was done. Over an hour in I happened to pick up the box and start reading the synopsis - big mistake. One thing I have to add is that the Panorama DVD case spoils the movie. It leaves a kick in the stomach feeling after watching it.

I liked it, but because of how personal the subject matter was, it's not one I'll be returning to any time soon. Just saw this one and it was very hard to watch. 'So one day we may find ways to get this Chinese guy some groove' If you already like the original, I highly recommend checking it out. Every scene seems to be where they're supposed to be (except an awkward music cue around the middle, you know which one I mean), and After This, Our Exile remains a great film.'īasically, it makes the film feel richer, and there were quite a few moments added back in that aren't significant, but much appreciated (such as the identity of the mother's lover and the father's idea of a 'farewell dinner' with his son). There isn't any significant plot point added, but it's amazing none of the scenes added felt like filler. Some of the abrupt breaks in storytelling (like how the father and son decide to leave the house they live in during the first act) are still there, but the addition of the small moments really help to smooth out the story as a whole.

Anyone who felt the epilogue is too short and sudden (like me) is gonna find that the epilogue is exactly the same, except the second viewing and Tam's explanation of the ending really helped me warm up to it. 'I'm sure the question is: how is the director's cut? Anyone who felt that the theatrical cut moved too slow is obviously gonna find it even slower, as the film's methodical pacing really shows here.

After this our exile 2006