Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Lan Yu’?

Lan Yu (2001)

tomatometer

65

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 12

A well-crafted love story, but it may be too simplistic for some.

62

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 5

A well-crafted love story, but it may be too simplistic for some.

audience

82

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 2,332

My Rating

Movie Info

Stanley Kwan, one of Hong Kong's few openly gay filmmakers, directed this drama that blends a same-sex love story into a tableau of China's tumultuous recent history. In 1988, Lan Yu (Liu Ye) is a college student from rural China who has just arrived in Beijing, where he intends to pursue his studies -- and where he begins to acknowledge his sexual leanings. While visiting a gay bar, Lan Yu meets Handong (Hu Jan), a successful businessman whose father is an important Communist Party official.

R, 1 hr. 27 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Jimmy Ngai

May 20, 2003

Strand Releasing

Cast

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (12) | DVD (4)

Hu and Liu offer natural, matter-of-fact performances that glint with sorrow, longing and love.

January 16, 2003 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The movie is gorgeously made, but it is also somewhat shallow and art-conscious.

October 17, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | Comment
Chicago Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's probably worth catching solely on its visual merits. If only it had the story to match.

October 4, 2002 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | Comment
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Assured, vital and well wrought, the film is, arguably, the most accomplished work to date from Hong Kong's versatile Stanley Kwan.

August 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

In the end, we are left with something like two ships passing in the night rather than any insights into gay love, Chinese society or the price one pays for being dishonest.

August 16, 2002 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There is much that is touching in the affair of Lan Yu and Handong.

August 16, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A gay love story based on an anonymous Internet novel.

September 27, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The characters seem one-dimensional, and the film is superficial and will probably be of interest primarily to its target audience.

March 7, 2003 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | Comment
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Seems like something American and European gay movies were doing 20 years ago.

March 7, 2003 Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | Comment
Salt Lake Tribune

This delicately observed story, deeply felt and masterfully stylized, is a triumph for its maverick director.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

A nicely constructed film with an unusual, though not unheard-of theme for Chinese cinema.

November 2, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | Comment
San Diego Metropolitan

Lan Yu is a genuine love story, full of traditional layers of awakening and ripening and separation and recovery.

November 1, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | Comment
San Diego Union-Tribune

It's a lovely, sad dance highlighted by Kwan's unique directing style.

September 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Oregonian | Comment
Oregonian

The very simple story seems too simple and the working out of the plot almost arbitrary.

August 22, 2002 Comment
New Times
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Lan Yu

Ooooooh my god, it has been SO damn long. I have seen like, 25 movies since I've last updated. However, I will not stop! ((reviews later)) I also saw the HK films... Abnormal Beauty (9/10 - Ekin Factor + 1 - 10/10) As you can see from my sticky post worshipping Ekin darling, this movie barely had him in it. I

June 19, 2006
Bara Megami
Bara Megami

Lan Yu (2002) "Its goodness is a decision for the mouth to make." A wealthy Chinese businessman and a struggling Chinese student trade sex for favors until the student?s affection grows too great and the businessman opts for marriage with an associate, tossing aside the relationship with the same sense of ethics he

June 4, 2005
alistarr
Rich Brown

Lan Yu Quotes

No quotes approved yet for Lan Yu. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for Lan Yu

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,584 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,497 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,190 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,682 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile