Bends

Anna and Fai, each content in separate worlds, are jolted by devastating events that send them into downward spirals of financial hardship, isolation and desperate measures. For Anna it is the sudden disappearance of the spouse who supports her rich lifestyle. Fai struggles to find a way to get his pregnant wife across the border to Hong Kong, as it is likely the only way for them to keep their child. Since Fai is Anna's driver, they see each other almost daily, yet they mostly suffer alone and in silence. They move in separate spheres. In unexpected ways their lives intersect more. They begin to support one another, though some situations bring them closer to conflict. In this captivating, gently flowing and affecting film the emotions of the characters are keenly felt as they encounter bends in the landscape, life's fortunes and each other. The cinematography of misty mountains, steel and glass towers and flying birds is gorgeous, uplifting and malleable with the shifting emotions of film characters. I wish there were more such scenes. Seen at the 2014 Miami International Film Festival.