Blue Cha Cha

Review for "Shen Hai" - International title: "Blue Cha Cha"

A-Yu, a woman in her twenties just got released from prison. She starts out with living at an older lady who runs a bar. She accepts a deal where she keeps a rich businessman company for money. But starting a relationship with a man doesn't go smoothly for her.

This is the beginning of a movie with a simple, melodramatic story. Taipei is captured in poetic images. Although the story is dramatic, script and acting are subtle, with nuances and of high quality. This movie doesn't try to drive its point home with a black marker. It rather sketches with soft pencils of different colors.

The film really touched me personally. The main characters and certain events were very recognizable. For me, it was a bit like the soothing lyrics of a sad country song that talks about what you went through. Touching, emotional and healing. That's why I rate it higher that others maybe would. I give this a 9/10

To illustrate my point, at the 2006 International Film Festival of Rotterdam where I saw this, the movie got a 3.65/5 (n=493) from the audience. So roughly a 7,5/10