Star-studded mainland production 'Forever Young' is a beautiful tribute to education and empowerment [Review]
The film is a beautiful and instructive Chinese historical romantic drama, although it can seem overly sentimental at times
Forever Young is a star-studded, beautiful and instructive Chinese historical romantic drama, although it can seem overly sentimental at times.
The 138-minute film tells the life stories of Tsinghua University graduates from four generations across a century. The film was shot in 2011 and 2012, and meant to commemorate the university’s centennial, but its release was postponed until this year.
As you might expect from a cast that includes Zhang Ziyi and Wang Leehom, the actors give a fairly decent performance. The cinematography is as aesthetically pleasing as the leads’ faces, and the occasional use of Chinese folk songs adds to the beauty.
With a plot suggesting that each individual can make a difference to inspire their next generation, Forever Young succeeds in delivering the importance and power of enlightenment and empowerment.
However, as the film jumps back and forth between historical periods, the connection between characters of different generations can be confusing.
Another issue is that characters are often depicted as flawless, making them dull and unrealistic.
Despite its minor flaws, Forever Young to is an emotionally stirring and quality piece of art which encourages viewers to stay true to themselves.