An Autumn's Tale (1987)
Reviewed by: jfierro on 1999-12-21
This movie had a huge influence on the romantic dramas coming out of Hong Kong. Instead of relying on a soap opera plot or incredible tragedy, this is a very understated movie about a nice guy who likes a girl, and tries to make her happy. Director Clara Law and screenwriter Alex Law (the same pair that created ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT and later NOW YOU SEE LOVE, NOW YOU DON'T) break new ground by developing the characters rather than throwing in unnecessary plot complications. Little touches like Chow's self-improvement list or dream of opening a seaside restaurant don't have a shattering effect, but make you care about the characters. And Cherie Chung and Chow Yun-Fat don't waste the fine writing, turning in perhaps their best performances.