Venice and Toronto. Beyond the Years.

"Im Kwon-taek's 100th film, Beyond the Years, is his first on love and romance," writes Gautaman Bhaskaran in the Hollywood Reporter. "Autobiographical, or so it seems, Beyond the Years tries to make up for this weakness by presenting a canvas of extraordinary visuals, conceived and captured by Jung Il-sung. The Korean landscape appears almost ethereal as it is underscored by 'pansori' or Korean throat-singing. In fact, the film can well pass off for a musical. Ryo Kunihiko's compositions enslave one's heart."

J Robert Parks has his problems with it, but: "Im still has great eye for compositions, so there are pleasures to spare. And the pansori music, taken from famous Korean operas and running throughout the film like a Hollywood musical, is gorgeous."

"I actually found Beyond the Years quite unbearable, filled with an odd kind of melodrama and utterly ludicrous situations," writes Aaron Dobbs.

"Im's helming is classy but conservative," writes Russell Edwards for Variety. "In a frustrating contrast to the energy he displayed in Chunhyang, Im's interest in the traditional songs here seems more intellectual than visceral."

Posted by dwhudson at October 2, 2007 8:05 AM