Eve and the Fire Horse (2005)

83% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,538 ratings)

Two impressionable young sisters find their fledgling religious beliefs leading them toward opposite ends of the spectrum following a series of family misfortunes in this drama from Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan. Eve (Phoebe Jojo Kut) and her sister Karena (Hollie Lo) were raised by Buddhist parents… More Two impressionable young sisters find their fledgling religious beliefs leading them toward opposite ends of the spectrum following a series of family misfortunes in this drama from Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan. Eve (Phoebe Jojo Kut) and her sister Karena (Hollie Lo) were raised by Buddhist parents who showed only a passing interest in their faith. When the family suffers a series of setbacks, elder daughter Karena looks to Catholicism as a means of improving her family's lot in life as her strong-willed younger sister Eve -- born under the sign of the fire horse -- opts for a unique blend of Buddhism and Catholicism that is entirely her own creation. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Julia Kwan
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 6, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jul 24, 2007

Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
At times Eve plays like an unshaped memoir. What makes the film almost satisfying is that [director] Kwan has given us a charming and lovingly realized world. But halfway is still only halfway.
Ken Eisner, Variety
Both a finely wrought period piece and a slice of delicately captured childhood.
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail
One of the most enchanting and memorable films made in this country.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Eve & the Fire Horse has a kind of poetry that lifts it above the typical drama of immigrant life and gives [Kwan's] characters a lasting poignancy.
David Levine, Filmcritic.com
The incomplete storylines really do a disservice to Horse's fascinating characters and to those of us watching who feel like part of the family.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
The script's wry humour and Kwan's sure touch with her cast save it from becoming too sombre or too sentimental. In fact, she's created something rare: a family movie that makes keen observations about family life.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
The beliefs of children are so absolute and pure, from the dreadful feeling that they can be responsible for a death to the joy of believing a statue can come to life at night and goldfish can sing opera.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
A remarkably good-natured and gentle film about spirituality's place in a family's life.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
An endearing memoir of childhood and of a certain time and place of innocence.
Michael Ferraro, Film Threat
Eve and the Fire Horse is an ambitious feature-length debut from Julie Kwan, which demonstrates her directing skill when it comes to actors.
Audrey Rock-Richardson, Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)
Kwan has an astonishingly introspective eye for detail, and a nurturing quality.
Kim Linekin, eye WEEKLY
While the Catholic lore in this film may be wonky, the relationship between the young Chinese-Canadian sisters who try on Catholicism in a bid to safeguard their family is bang-on.