Ye ben (Fleeing by Night) (2000)

40% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(206 ratings)

A woman discovers unexpected rivals for the affections of her fiancée in this drama from Taiwan set in the 1930s and 1940s. Hsu Shaodong (Huang Lei) is a gifted classical musician who is pledged to marry Wei Ying'er (Rene Liu), a young woman whose father owns a theater. However, Hsu Shaodong is… More A woman discovers unexpected rivals for the affections of her fiancée in this drama from Taiwan set in the 1930s and 1940s. Hsu Shaodong (Huang Lei) is a gifted classical musician who is pledged to marry Wei Ying'er (Rene Liu), a young woman whose father owns a theater. However, Hsu Shaodong is attracted to Lin Chung (Yin Chao-te), a star vocalist with the Peking Opera, while Lin is infatuated with wealthy Huang Zilei (Tai Li-jen). While Wei Ying'er deeply loves Hsu Shaodong, as time passes she can't ignore his attraction to other men, which becomes all the more apparent after they leave China and emigrate to the United States. Ye Ben had its American premier at the 2000 Hawaiian Film Festival, where it was shown in competition. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Li Kong Hsu, Chi Yin
Written By: Hui Ling Wang, Ming-xia Wang
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 15, 2000 Wide
On DVD: May 8, 2003
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
While it's all quite tasteful to look at, the attention process tends to do a little fleeing of its own.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
An overwrought Taiwanese soaper about three people and their mixed-up relationship.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
An exquisite love story directed with admirable subtlety and sensitivity by Li-kong Hsu and Chi Yin from a superb script by Hui-ling Wang and Ming-xia Wang.
Jessica Winter, Village Voice
This dreadfully earnest inversion of the Concubine love triangle eschews the previous film's historical panorama and roiling pathos for bug-eyed mugging and gay-niche condescension.
Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
It's a square, sentimental drama that satisfies, as comfort food often can.
Jordan Reed, Boxoffice Magazine
[Lin Chung's] voice is rather unexceptional, even irritating (at least to this Western ear), making it awfully hard to buy the impetus for the complicated love triangle that develops between the three central characters.
David Noh, Film Journal International
The film makes a tragic error by going on for too long, trying to mirror every subsequent event in Chinese history: war, revolution, Communism, etc.
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly
[Liu's] artistry deepens here, as Ing'er grows from overeager girl to knowing woman, one whose dilemma is as vexing as any she heard sung from the stage of her father's opera house.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film has the courage of its convictions and excellent performances on its side.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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