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Taiwan's Hou Hsiao-hsien is perhaps the worlds greatest living filmmaker! This is not his best film, but it is both a lovely tribute and a subtly reflective film of memories and sensations. Hou continues to explore both the boundaries of the globe and his own cinema. As he did in Japan with his 2003 homage to Yasujiro Ozu (Cafe Lumiere), Hou approaches France from the eye of a foreigner using Song Fang as the protagonist and Albert Lamorisse's classic 1956 original (The Red Balloon) as the backdrop. Yet the film is viewed from the eye of the adult reflection of childhood memories. Juliette Binoche gives a stunningly energetic performance with some moments that really soar under Hou's trademark long camera takes. A beautiful film that I imagine I will enjoy even more over time.
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