The Stolen Years (2013)

Having seen most of Bai Bai He's films (notably "A Wedding Invitation" and "Love is Not Blind"), I had expected a decent movie. Bai Bai He takes on another role as a sick person, similar to "A Wedding Invitation". She draws you in with her bubbly attitude at the beginning, only to suck you dry (of tears) at the end. Want to watch a movie that will drive you to tears at the end? This is the one you want to stick with throughout.
There were loopholes, like how some supporting characters were just pushed off the screen without much of a excuse. But without paying too much attention to these small details and just focus on the big picture, the story can be romantically heart-wrenching. It's almost like an adaptation of "A Wedding Invitation", which stars Bai Bai He and Eddie Peng. The story lines are very similar. The cast are both just as wonderful. Joseph Chang challenges the role of a man who very much loves his wife (ex-wife, etc) and tries to yield to her every demand. I can never get bored of Bai Bai He because she is simply amazing with her roles, always challenging the opposite sex with her prowess. This was a well directed film.

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So I thought this was gonna have a bit of drama at the beginning & turn into a kind of rom-com... unfortunately, it was the other way round.
It has quite a generic rom-com style storyline to begin with - woman has accident, gets amnesia, can't remember the last 5 years; she remembers being on her honeymoon but now she is divorced & doesn't know who she really is. So, of course, she goes to her now ex-husband to try to regain her memories... let's all guess what happens next... exactly, their romance is rekindled = total rom-com right?! No, not right. This takes a very dark yet realistic turn & the final act is utterly heartbreaking. I thought the ending was quite beautifully done despite the serious & upsetting subject matter... I just wish it had been a rom-com; it is a good film but the ending is just too depressing for me.

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I haven't watched one of Baihe's movies in a while (or any asian movies really), but this was definitely one of which got me back into the asian entertainment scene.
Overall, I thought the movie was quite succinct in delivering what it had intended to. One factor I thoroughly enjoyed was the great chemistry between the two leads. To be perfectly honest, without the chemistry demonstrated by the two protagonists, the movie would not even have been half as good! The story line veils a plot twist - which is cruel, but also scientifically verifiable, I guess. There were a few things that the movie failed to address however. It was very focussed on the two leads that the other supporting characters were almost as if they were extras. There was no explanation as to what had happened to the surrounding friends and family that I even mistook a sister for some aunty or something. Anyhow, it is 100% definitely worth a watch. But please, get yourself a box of tissues to wipe the tears!

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