After the bride of a popular actor runs away with her first love at their wedding, he goes into grieving. In a drunken stupor, he ends up in a hotel atop the mountains. There, he finds love with a woman who is also grieving a lost love.
Johnnie To is a director I’ve only recently come to recognize. In January of this year, I watched his action film “Lifeline.” While To is most well known for his crime and action work, that one — centered on a team of firefighters — didn’t do much for me. The action scenes are impressive, but I found the characters thin and the script lacking.
Enter 2012’s “Romancing in Thin Air,” a complete shift in genre and tone. Going in, I expected a similar level of detachment. Instead, I found something surprisingly moving.
The film follows popular screen star Michael (Louis Koo), who spirals into a drunken haze after being left at the altar. He eventually finds himself at a remote mountain hotel run by Sau (Sammi Cheng), a woman still mourning her husband, who disappeared years ago. As she nurses Michael back to health, she reveals herself to be a former fan, and the two begin to form a complicated emotional bond.
To handles the material with a gentle, assured touch, drawing out the emotional core of his characters while allowing the story to unfold at a steady, engaging pace. Koo and Cheng make for a compelling screen pair, with Cheng, in particular, stealing the screen with her deeply moving performance. While the film ultimately arrives where you might expect, it’s the emotional journey that gives it weight.
Radiance Films presents this film on Blu-ray from a high-definition master supplied by Media Asia Films. While the presentation is generally clean, the image often appears processed. There’s a slightly artificial quality to the picture that suggests digital post-processing, resulting in a presentation that lacks natural texture and leaves the image feeling flat.
The 5.1 soundtrack fares better, offering a clean, well-balanced mix with clear dialogue and no noticeable distortion.
Extras include a commentary track by Dylan Cheung, an interview with screenwriter Ryker Chan, a visual essay by Sean Gilman, behind-the-scenes footage, a making-of featurette, and a trailer. The limited edition also includes a reversible sleeve and a booklet with writing from David Bordwell and Jake Cole.
While the video presentation underwhelmed me, Johnnie To’s film itself was a pleasant surprise. “Romancing in Thin Air” is an effective romance—a genre too often overlooked. This disc is recommended for the film, though those sensitive to image quality might want to wait for a sale.
Available on Limited Edition Blu-ray™ April 21st from RADIANCE FILMS
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