Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Directed by: Wayne Wang Starring: Li Bingbing, Jun Ji-hyun, Hugh Jackman Rating: PG-13 Release Date: July 15, 2011

TRAILER SCORE: 7/10

Thoughts by TSR: I’m a bit torn. On one hand, the trailer for Wayne Wang’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan didn’t really blow me away and demand to be seen as soon as possible. On the flipside, there are a number of things that intrigue me. In the end, though, I definitely come down on the positive side.

The cast, both in the past and present, looks to be uniformly solid (though it curiously makes no mention of Hugh Jackman’s involvement). The real MVP of this trailer, however, is the visuals. There is some really nice imagery on display. All of the production values look to be of the highest degree, and the cinematography in particular is gorgeous. Much of this is in the parts dealing with the 19th century storyline, and while the friendship between the girls in the modern storyline looks okay, the relationship between Lily and Snow Flower in the past is what really interests me. It looks as though it could be a beautiful, yet sad tale as the two laotongs are kept from one another due to those around them. I tend to be a sucker for these types of interwoven stories, so that also plays a big part in my general interest. If the two stories work together, this film could paint a truly moving portrait of friendship over centuries.

I try my best to give all kinds of films an equal chance. Just because a film is part of a genre I don’t always love doesn’t mean I’ll immediately pass on it. Based on this trailer, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan isn’t a film I feel I have to see right away, but it’s one that I plan to keep an eye on upon release.