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Road Home, The
Columbia/Tri-Star // G // November 27, 2001
List Price: $29.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
A simple story, elegantly and beautifully told, "The Road Home" is a small film able to present a stronger romance than any of the recent film's in the genre that Hollywood has produced. "The Road Home" is directed by Zhang Yimou (widely known for such films as "Raise the Red Lantern"). The film opens with Luo Yusheng (Sun Honglei) returning from the city to his small village, where his father has just passed away and his mother is deeply saddened by the loss.
After the short black and white opening in the present day, the young man remembers the stories that he has been told about how his mother and father met when they were young. The mother, Di Zhao, is played in flashback by Ziyi, while Di's husband, Changyu Luo, is played by Zheng Hao. As the flashback opens, Changyu Luo has arrived in the small town to become the area's teacher. The moment that Di sees him, she knows that she's really fallen deeply in love.
There's really not a great deal more story than that. What makes it so riveting is due to a few elements, including: the film's breathtakingly beautiful widescreen photography, which captures every movement with such grace and elegance and Zhang Ziyi's incredible performance, which tells just as much with words as it does glances, looks or other subtle touches. Her performance nearly moved me to tears on several occasions, and that's saying a lot, since it's been at least a few years since a movie was able to move me to that level.
As the flashback ends, we are joined once again with the present day story, as Luo Yusheng must find a way to pay for a proper funeral for his father, taking the casket down the road where his mother often waited and hoped for his return when he had to leave during the early years of their romance. I won't give away the ending, but it was quite touching and emotional.
"The Road Home" is really one of the best films I've seen recently and one of the best romances I've seen in quite some time. Powerful, emotional, riveting and touching, it makes a simple story into a marvelous, beautiful tale that can be enjoyed by all.
The DVD
VIDEO: Columbia/Tristar presents "The Road Home" in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Although the box lists a "pan & scan" edition as being included, thankfully the film is only presented in its original aspect ratio on a single-layer disc. The picture quality is generally pleasing, but some concerns arose at various points throughout the show. Sharpness and detail are generally very good; the color sequences are more well-defined than the black and white ones.
Problems are generally minor, but a bit irritating at times. Slight edge enhancement appears infrequently is noticable, but I didn't find it too terribly distracting. No pixelation was seen and only a few print flaws in the form of specks popped up during the film, the majority of which looked clean.
The film's colors really make the image quality impressive. Although the present sequences are black and white, the flashbacks are presented in gloriously rich, sumptuous colors that are richly offered here, appearing wonderfully well-saturated and flawless. Although the overall presentation isn't without some minor flaws here and there, the cinematography is so exquisite that some may consider a few sequences demo-worthy in terms of visuals.
SOUND: "The Road Home" is presented in Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1. As one might expect, the picture is essentially a front-heavy sound experience, as the majority of the film is dialogue and light score. I believe the surrounds entered into the equation lightly during a few scenes to backup the film's lovely score, but otherwise, they remained silent or extremely subtle.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus that essentially use film-themed images and cover art.
EXTRAS: Filmographies and trailers for "The Road Home", "Not One Less", "Shanghai Triad", "The Story Of Qui Ju" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Final Thoughts: "The Road Home" is able to move us, present us with full, interesting characters and present a simple, but touching and riveting story, all within a matter of just under 90 minutes. Great performances and remarkable visuals make this little film well worth a look. Definitely recommended.
A simple story, elegantly and beautifully told, "The Road Home" is a small film able to present a stronger romance than any of the recent film's in the genre that Hollywood has produced. "The Road Home" is directed by Zhang Yimou (widely known for such films as "Raise the Red Lantern"). The film opens with Luo Yusheng (Sun Honglei) returning from the city to his small village, where his father has just passed away and his mother is deeply saddened by the loss.
After the short black and white opening in the present day, the young man remembers the stories that he has been told about how his mother and father met when they were young. The mother, Di Zhao, is played in flashback by Ziyi, while Di's husband, Changyu Luo, is played by Zheng Hao. As the flashback opens, Changyu Luo has arrived in the small town to become the area's teacher. The moment that Di sees him, she knows that she's really fallen deeply in love.
There's really not a great deal more story than that. What makes it so riveting is due to a few elements, including: the film's breathtakingly beautiful widescreen photography, which captures every movement with such grace and elegance and Zhang Ziyi's incredible performance, which tells just as much with words as it does glances, looks or other subtle touches. Her performance nearly moved me to tears on several occasions, and that's saying a lot, since it's been at least a few years since a movie was able to move me to that level.
As the flashback ends, we are joined once again with the present day story, as Luo Yusheng must find a way to pay for a proper funeral for his father, taking the casket down the road where his mother often waited and hoped for his return when he had to leave during the early years of their romance. I won't give away the ending, but it was quite touching and emotional.
"The Road Home" is really one of the best films I've seen recently and one of the best romances I've seen in quite some time. Powerful, emotional, riveting and touching, it makes a simple story into a marvelous, beautiful tale that can be enjoyed by all.
The DVD
VIDEO: Columbia/Tristar presents "The Road Home" in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. Although the box lists a "pan & scan" edition as being included, thankfully the film is only presented in its original aspect ratio on a single-layer disc. The picture quality is generally pleasing, but some concerns arose at various points throughout the show. Sharpness and detail are generally very good; the color sequences are more well-defined than the black and white ones.
Problems are generally minor, but a bit irritating at times. Slight edge enhancement appears infrequently is noticable, but I didn't find it too terribly distracting. No pixelation was seen and only a few print flaws in the form of specks popped up during the film, the majority of which looked clean.
The film's colors really make the image quality impressive. Although the present sequences are black and white, the flashbacks are presented in gloriously rich, sumptuous colors that are richly offered here, appearing wonderfully well-saturated and flawless. Although the overall presentation isn't without some minor flaws here and there, the cinematography is so exquisite that some may consider a few sequences demo-worthy in terms of visuals.
SOUND: "The Road Home" is presented in Mandarin Dolby Digital 5.1. As one might expect, the picture is essentially a front-heavy sound experience, as the majority of the film is dialogue and light score. I believe the surrounds entered into the equation lightly during a few scenes to backup the film's lovely score, but otherwise, they remained silent or extremely subtle.
MENUS:: Basic, non-animated menus that essentially use film-themed images and cover art.
EXTRAS: Filmographies and trailers for "The Road Home", "Not One Less", "Shanghai Triad", "The Story Of Qui Ju" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon".
Final Thoughts: "The Road Home" is able to move us, present us with full, interesting characters and present a simple, but touching and riveting story, all within a matter of just under 90 minutes. Great performances and remarkable visuals make this little film well worth a look. Definitely recommended.
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