Genre: Drama
Director: Leste Chen
Cast: Joseph Chang, Bryant Chang, Kate Yeung
RunTime: 1 hr 35 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films & Encore Films
Rating: R21 (Cut)

Opening Day: 26 April 2007

Soundtrack Review:

ETERNAL SUMMER MUSIC CD

ETERNAL SUMMER SCORE

Synopsis :

Shane and Jonathan first meet at a primary school by the sea. Shane is the class clown, while Jonathan is the no.1 student. One day, the teacher sets up a game called “Little Guardian Angel” where good students are paired with bad students in order to reform them. Against his will, Jonathan is paired with Shane. What starts off as an awkward friendship gradually evolves into forbidden love.

No matter how the stars spin in the universe, Jonathan always stands by Shane. No matter what happens, Jonathan always supports Shane through thick and thin. Until the day a lonely girl called Carrie, enters their lives. Like a fast-burning comet, she brings hope, beauty, happiness, and sorrow. Earthquakes may shatter economy and politics, but it cannot break the secret between the three young people.

When Shane, Jonathan, and Carrie go back to the beach, returning to the origin of their story, they finally understand that…no matter what secret they have… no soul was born to be alone.

Movie Review:

Opening the film with a trio of mildly bruised youths, Jonathan Kang (Bryant Chang), Carrie Tu (Kate Yeung) and Shane Yu (Joseph Chang) cheerleesly sit on a school bench sets the mood in an unusual follow-up for helmer Leste Chen who last year delivered Taiwanese horror movie "The Heirloom." of a low key, but sure-footed, gay-themed meller "Eternal Summer." Opening strongly on it’s home turf, commercial prospects across Asia appear promisingly robust which is a must-have for gay fests seeking international quality into their schedule.

Eternal Summer tells the story of Jonathan (Bryant Chang), a young man who finds himself in an enviable romantic predicament. A pretty Hong Kong tranfer, Carrie (Kate Yeung) after him and a secret love with someone else, namely his best friend Shane (Joseph Chang), an extrovert and roguish and handsome troublemaker. Even with Carrie accepting the situation, that isn't going to solve things for these conflicted youth. The revelation of Jonathan's sexuality creates tension between Carrie and Jonathan while Shane is oblivious to his old friend's issues, though, and initially has a contentious relationship with Carrie. However, their unspoken conflict over Jonathan gives way to their own relationship, which they embark on without Jonathan's knowledge. The days and nights pass, but the big secret of Jonathan's desires hangs over the three friends like the proverbial other shoe. Eventually, something has to give, and when it does, lives will surely change.

As the title of the film may suggest, the emotions of youth are not things that can easily pass, regardless of honesty or sudden revelations. Not everything can reach absolute closure, and Eternal Summer seems to echo that theme by concentrating on its suffering, silent mood and the all-consuming emotions of its characters. Jonathan is consumed day-to-day by his passion for his pal, and Bryant Chang reveals his character's inner torture with a pitch-perfect emotional performance while Joseph Chang gives Shane, an undeniable charisma and a substantial inner core. The success of Eternal Summer hinges largely on his character's hidden emotions, and Joseph Chang handles the role with a charismatic, soulful energy. As the unfortunate third party of the trio, Kate Yeung is expressive and believable in a more limited and subtle role than either of her two male costars. All three central perfs have a strong ring of authenticity. Bryant Chang's acutely observed thesping perfectly captures the melancholia of a troubled adolescent, while Joseph Chang is superb as the jock who has more sensitivity than anyone has ever given him credit for.

More than anything, Eternal Summer looks and sounds beautiful. The widescreen compositions, pleasing colors, and evocative soundtrack suit the film's gentle tone, giving the film an almost tangible warmth. Director Leste Chen's direction is evenly-paced and sensitive, giving each detail purpose and emotional weight. The film is almost too sure-handed, never presenting its emotions or situations as sensational or overblown, but also never digging too far beneath the surface. Eternal Summer is a film about mood and atmosphere, revealing and reveling in each character's feelings such that they engulf each frame like invisible emotion-saturated fog. The negative that exists in this is that there's little complexity attained, as the film reveals itself in an entirely too efficient manner. We get the emotions and we get the situations, and that feeling continues for a good ninety minutes. When the film's more sensational moments do occur, they're hardly unexpected.

Movie Rating:

(A melancholy movement of friendship and true love with a winning combination of affecting emotions and atmospshere)

Review by Lokman B S