During a ferry journey, a prosperous man (Tony Leung) meets a young woman (Jane March), leading to a passionate affair that faces complications from the start. His age and Chinese heritage contrast with her French background in then-French Indo-China. She’s also motivated by financial gain, recognizing his potential to provide a more comfortable existence than what she has with her mother (Fréderique Meininger) and two brothers. The older brother (Arnaud Giovaninetti) is disapproving of their relationship, while the younger one (Melvil Poupaud) tends to avoid attention and focuses on playing the piano. Despite the initial transactional nature of their connection, a complex mix of affection and conflict arises as political changes unfold, with France withdrawing from Vietnam. The film boasts beautiful visuals and a strong musical score, but its narrative feels underdeveloped and predictable; after repeated scenes of intimacy, it seemed like Jean-Jacques Annaud struggled to explore the characters beyond their physical or financial aspects. It unfolds at a deliberate pace, and I didn’t find myself truly invested in either character as the story progressed, accompanied by Jeanne Moreau's narration, which occasionally felt overly dramatic. The ending arrived after a considerable wait and ultimately wasn't satisfying. While it offers a glimpse into the disparity between wealth and poverty during the 1920s, it’s primarily an example of aesthetics triumphing over narrative depth.

Source on TMDB