Romancing in Thin Air

they don't kiss a single time in this film, actually they barely touch each other, and yet this is one of the most profound pictures i've ever seen about love/being in love. not just it per se, because this is mostly, as matt strohl has written, an unique work on the feedback loop between cinema and life. shy miner mirrors famous movie star's characters as he falls for a visitor. but she only falls for him when he plays one of lau's songs, shows her his love through things he's doing for her. movie star becomes a 'real person', kinda unconsciously mirroring the miner's life, and falls for the widowed motel owner. but they only get together when he makes a movie about their story, artist and miner finally merging in the last few shots outside the motel -- actor arrives in worker's truck. it takes a gorgeous reel life to mend a broken real life -- or the other way around, whatever. second half feels like the most entrancingly emotional story in years, the bridges of madison county category of crying hard to every new gesture and line on screen. not to mention how to directs this in such unassumingly masterful form -- lau rescuing sue in the woods might be one of his finest sequences ever --, bending populist genres -- from awkward romcom to grieving romance, with occasional bits of action comedy -- in a meta ride that leaves us yearning for something as enchanting -- be it being swept off our feet by someone/being the one who sweeps someone off their feet or encountering the next romantic masterpiece who will make you feel that shit! it reminded me so much of fiona apple's i want you to love me.