(Hong Kong 2012)

Original Title: Gao Hai Ba Zhi Lian Il 高海拔之戀

 

Directed by Johnnie To Produced by Johnnie To, Wai Ka Fai Starring: Louis Koo, Sammi Cheng, Gao Yuanyuan, Wang Baoqiang, Tien Niu, Li Guangjie, Huang Yi, Wilfred Lau, Yang Yi Reviewing: Radiance Films UK Blu-ray Release Genres: Romance / Comedy / Drama

 

Rating: 3.3 / 5

Radiance Films UK Blu-ray Synopsis: Movie star icon Michael (Louis Koo, Throw Down) sinks into a depression after being publicly dumped at the altar by his former fiancee. After embarking on a drunken bender, he is found in a mountain forest, lost and barely responsive, by Sue (Sammi Cheng, Infernal Affairs), who runs the local guesthouse and is still grieving the loss of her husband, who mysteriously disappeared in the woods several years prior. As Sue slowly nurses Michael back to health and the pair learn more about their shared pasts, they embark on a journey to find catharsis in each other. While best known for his crime and action films, legendary director Johnnie To (Election, Drug War) also directed over a dozen romantic melodramas, and Romancing in Thin Air is one of the very best in its genre: a powerful and moving meditation on loss, grief, and the power of cinema itself. (121 Mins)

 

Views: Made as a co-production between Hong Kong and China, Romancing in Thin Air is a 2012 rom-com from the prolific and legendary Johnnie To; a film-maker who has been wowing fans for decades across many genres now. Surprisingly, quite a number of those have been rom-coms which have often proved to be quite successful for him and his Milkyway Image company – of which he started up in 1996 with frequent collaborator and producer Wai Ka Fai. Personally, I've always preferred his action and arthouse efforts a lot more, genuinely hailing him as a better director than John Woo in previous reviews. Saying that, I'd never turn down the chance to see any of his projects, and with the recent Blu-ray release of Romancing in Thin Air by Radiance Films, I was eager to see if this would take my breath away...

 

Sadly, it didn't – but I did enjoy the watch for the most part. Overly long – absolutely – but I'll be honest in admitting that the final act did indeed bring a tear to my eye. Romancing in Thin Air tells the tale of popular Hong Kong actor Michael Lau who, after being dumped at the altar by his actress fiancee in front of the paparazzi, goes into hiding after hitting the bottle and falling into the back of a truck. Waking up high in the mountains of the north-west Yunnan province, specifically at the Deep Woods Hotel, the lovesick drunk falls ill with altitude sickness and is looked after by it's owner Sue and a local doctor. Dealing with her own issues as well as running the hotel, Sue and her assistants welcome Michael to stay for a while, with the star going onto learn that she was a loyal member of his fan club many years ago. In fact, many of Michael's films were instrumental in bringing Sue and her late husband together. But as he delves deeper into Sue's past, her learns of the tragedy that saw her husband go into the deep woods in search of a lost, never to return. Inspired by her story, Michael returns to Hong Kong to make a new movie – inviting Sue to the premiere with the hope of possibly starting something else!

 

The always busy Louis Koo stars as troubled movie star Michael Lau, and does a decent enough job bringing his usual vibe of charm and comic timing, while shifting into serious mode when the dramatic moments call for it. Of course, Koo had starred in a host of movies and TV shows before Romancing in Thin Air came about, joining the film industry in the mid-90s with Danny Lee's Organised Crime & Triad Bureau (1994), going on to star in films like the Troublesome Night (1997) series, Ringo Lam's The Suspect (1998), Clarence Fok's Century of the Dragon (1999), Tsui Hark's The Legend of Zu (2001), Jackie Chan's Rob-B-Hood (2006) and Donnie Yen's Flashpoint (2007) among many, many more. But it's also worth noting that this certainly wasn't the first time he had worked under celebrated film-maker Johnnie To – that honour goes to Chinese New Year comedy, Fat Choi Spirit from 2002, that saw him star alongside the great Andy Lau and Lau Ching Wan (both of whom would become regular players in To's work over the years). Following this, Koo and To would work again on Love For All Seasons (2003), Throwdown (2004), Election (2005), Election 2 (2006), Triangle (2007), and Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2011) before reaching this; and it wouldn't end there. Drug War followed in 2013, with Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 the year after that, and Three (2016) seemingly being their last project to date. Playing Koo's love interest and leading lady of the show, is the great Sammi Cheng who first starred for Johnnie To in Needing You (2000) but with Louis Koo in To's rom-com, Love For All Seasons a few years later. And like Koo, Cheng had worked a number of times with To prior to this in films such as Wu Yen (2001), Love on a Diet (2001), My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002), and Yesterday Once More (2004) before starring here. Of course, both her and Koo would share the screen many times over the years, so their on-screen chemistry here is very believable. Both are joined by names such as Gao Yuanyuan, Crystal Huang, Tien Nu, Wilfred Lau, and the oddly wonderful Wang Baoqiang who stars as the jilted lover that comes back for Koo's fiancee.

 

Accompanying the film is a number of bonus features including a new audio commentary by Dylan Cheung which made for a good listen. Following that is a 15 minute interview with screenwriter Ryker Chan, an interesting guy who first started work as a film co-ordinator, or assistant and second-unit director before writing his first screenplay for Milkyway Image with Don't Go Breaking My Heart in 2011. He talks about getting to work with To and his ideas behind the film, which was good to see. Sean Gilman delivers a 28 minute visual essay on Johnnie To which makes for a great addition. Focusing on the director's romance movies as much as his action-driven titles, Sean runs through To's filmography and breaks down what makes them just as special as the films he's more known for. We then get a 25 minute behind-the-scenes featurette, originally made for the 2012 Hong Kong Blu-ray release. Compiled through candid shots that captures the sheer rawness of their filming conditions, it was fantastic to see Johnnie in action as a director and it certainly didn't look like an easy production. About 9 minutes of interviews with cast and crew follow, listed on the menu as Making-of-featurettes. Originally made for the same Hong Kong Blu-ray release, it's definitely a lot more polished than the previous bonus feature and was great to see, with everyone talking very excitedly about the film, from the characters to the locations and more. And finally, a quick – but engrossing – 35 second trailer finishes things off...

 

So while it didn't blow me away and maybe ran a little too long for it's own good, Romancing in Thin Air still managed to hold my attention and delivered enough laughs, lump in the throat moments, and strong performances from its two main leads to make it work. Wonderfully made and offering plenty of emotional value, Romancing in Thin Air made a nice change from the usual To action flicks – although it's not one I need to go back to anytime soon!

 

Overall: Nicely made, well acted and great to watch, Romancing in Thin Air may run a little long, but is a must for rom-com fans looking for something a little different!

 

Radiance Films Blu-ray Extras: Audio Commentary with Dylan Cheung, Interview with Ryker Chan, Video Essay on Johnnie To's Romance Films, Extended Behind-the-Scenes Featurette, Making of Featurette, Trailer