Turn Left Turn Right

Turn Left Turn Right is a sweet little movie
based on the charming illustrated love story 'A Chance of Sunshine'
by renowned Taiwanese author/artist, Jimmy Liao.


The story, set in Taipei, revolves around John Liu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), an aspiring violinist who is flocked by women like bees to honey because of his handsome face. However what he really wants is to meet someone special who appreciates his violin performance. Eve Choi (Gigi Leung) is a professional translator whose true passion is translating love poems, but for work she is stuck in translating cheesy novels and cheap thrillers which make her feel tense and frightened. Like millions living in a large city, John and Eve lead lives of solitude. Living in different units of the same apartment building and separated by one thin wall, the two have brushed shoulders in crowd hundreds times, but somehow their paths never really cross.

But as the movie tagline says, even two parallel lines will meet one day!

So one day at a fountain in the park, they finally bump into each other... and it's love at first sight!
Just like a pair of long-lost lovers, John and Eve spend a beautiful afternoon together. Unfortunately, a sudden shower cuts the encounter short.They exchange phone numbers and quickly run home. Yet fate plays a cruel joke on them, the rain has soaked through their precious scrap of paper and the phone numbers are hopelessly smudged.
You will be in constant anticipation as to whether the couple will ever be reunited as you watched them having one missed encounter after another, while meddling acquaintances and pure bad luck conspire to keep the would-be-lovers apart.

The movie is not perfect, but I for one, love the use of colours in this movie.
I love the opening scene which showed a mob of people
with a barrage of black umbrellas,
save a green one held by John and a red one by Eve.
I also adore Eve's outfits, a mish mash of colours from the sweaters
to the scarves and the skirts she wears

Don't you just love these whimsical illustrations by Jimmy Liao?
And here's a video I found on youtube showing the entire picture book
in sequence. It's in Chinese but a picture speaks a thousand words right?




I now leave you with this beautiful poem by Polish writer Wislawa Szymborska
that inspired the picture book and movie. Here is the English translation:

Love at First Sight by Wislawa Szymborska -source: Hugo Schwyzer

They’re both convinced that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful, but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they’d never met before, they’re sure
that there’d been nothing between them.
But what’s the word from the streets, staircases, hallways -
perhaps they’ve passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them if they don’t remember -
a moment face to face in some revolving door?
perhaps a “sorry” muttered in a crowd?
a curt “wrong number” caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don’t remember.

They’d be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn’t read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago or just last Tuesday

a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished into childhood’s thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another beforehand.

Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events is always open halfway through

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh the movie sounds so romantic. Those illustrations looks so good. This Jimmy Liao is talented for sure. You got me curious about his works.

have a great day!

I Am Denise Katipunera

Annie said...

man, my friend will love this post when i show her!
and those illustrations are pretty cute :)

love annie <3

Vicki said...

sounds like such a lovely film! Ill have to try and get it! Im currently watching the old classic little women.. so good! thank you for your lovely comment and to answer your question im doing freelance work for the magazine, i love my fashion agent job too much to leave it so im trying to do everything! leaving me less and less time to blog! need more hours in the day! :)
magpie-girl xx

Ruxandra said...

so this is another movie going on my list for must see:)i have to find it on the internet, hopefully it is on mysoju.com...when did it come out?:)

daisychain said...

It sounds lovely =)

LookingGlassGirl said...

Beauttiful poem. I want to see the film now :).

yiqin; said...

Ah it is an amazing show :)

Tights Lover said...

Sounds like a great movie. Excellent use of colors, as you said!

un petit lapin said...

Confession: I heart Takeshi Kaneshiro!

Unknown said...

does turn left turn right have subtitles? looks great!

Anonymous said...

i loved the book! i remember buying it frm kinokuniya (jap bkstore) with friends when i was in JC. We were hooked onto Jimmy's illustrations. i still have many of his books stored away in my bookshelf back home. suddenly wanna flip thru the pages!

i've got a few places in mind for my future honeymoon trip~ Spain, Venice, France, i even thought of Brazil... haha the pple & the place seems fun! i've not been holidaying for ages, so there's a million options running thru my mind ;) what abt u? where'll ur honeymoon be @?

Gerri Ward said...

OMG! This is such a LOVELY POST -Thank YOU!!!:))
xoxox,
Gerri

C A said...

Hi, I've just found your blog and I love it, as well as the pictures!! Now following you, follow me 2! ;)

MAISON CHAPLIN: fashion shows, backtage, interviews with the best designers, photoshoots!

Follow me now @

www.MaisonChaplin.blogspot.com

Maria Confer said...

This movie and book sound so wonderful!! I love stories like this since they remind me of Cole's and my relationship. We had so many weird situations where we almost met.

The illustrations are gorgeous.

lululetty.blogspot.com

Emily Cato said...

It sounds so lovely, and I love the illustrations.

Thanks for visiting my blog :) I hope you're having a great week so far.

buhdoop said...

This movie sounds so wonderful. I will have to check it out.

Angela said...

he is so handsome. saw him once in person.... : )

Move said...

awww takeshi kaneshiro, hes one of my favs asian actors, her japanese and chinese blood make her face unique and handsome >.<

xxx

Valencia Lia said...

I've seen this movie over and over many times !! And its always so so romantic and its true,two people will eventually meet one day !

No matter how big this world is. heeee

And I love love this whole movie from front to the end. And Takashi Kaneshiro is so handsome ! oops

And I adore the poem at the end. Beautiful writing !

Unknown said...

Sounds like a fascinating movie, especially with how they use colors throughout the movie for special effects!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story with us. I just finished watching it on you tube, and it is now one of my favorite romantic movies, and the music is sweet and heartwarming. I am so happy you wrote about it.

Unknown said...

poem is beautfiul!

Missy
For all things fashion:
http://thefashionfusion.blogspot.com

Fiza Apani said...

love this movie too...just finished watching it on HBO..found your blog when im trying to find the movie's poster to post it to my FB wall...thanks for sharing...

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