Set in China in the 70s - 80s, Teeth of Love tells the tale of three painful romances of a woman. Unlike most films set in this era, which usually focus on how China was affected socially, the focus of this movie is particularly pessimistic: The characters are forever suffering. There are female and male protagonists all tortured by love.
The film begins in Beijing in 1977, the year after the “cultural revolution” ended. At school, Qian leads a gang of girls and behaves like a boy, fighting and bullying classmates. She doesn’t seem to be aware that she’s a girl; when a boy writes her a love letter, she insults him in public, which leads to tragic consequences.
Years later, we meet a Qian who has been forced to leave her lover - a married man. Yet when Qian is finally reunited with her own husband after years of separation, she finds that she has become accustomed to living alone. The day before their divorce, her gentle husband leaves her with a cruel souvenir.
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This is one of the screening for Asia on the Edge, held at The Arts House.
Kind of a slow movie.
But i'm really glad that even thought the movie was set in that era, we're spared of the cultural revolution piece. Otherwise, i'll really fall asleep again.
Can't really say i love the film but i did enjoy watching it.
Maybe the lead character's life story was way too dramatic for me.
~ Big bully in school, publicly embarrassed the guy who wrote a love letter to you.
~ The guy couldn't swallow the embarrassment - Hit you with a brick on your back.
~ Indirectly, caused the death of the guy.
~ Got into medical school.
~ Fell in love with a patient (a married man) while doing intern in a hospital.
~ Got pregnant but can't keep the baby because the man is married.
~ Did an illegal abortion with the help of the man who got you pregnant.
~ Got kicked out of medical school and end up being a butcher.
~ Married a man you don't love and later on, have a son with him.
~ Ended with a divorce and your husband plucked out his canine tooth as a 'souvenir' for you.
Oh... Drama~
But yet, the fantastic acting of the lead actress was what kept me engaged in the film. Contradicting huh. Haha!
Anyway, it was a good experience to watch a film in Arts House.
Imagine a 75-seat Screening Room yet only 7 patrons in it and four are your friends. Happening! :p