Lack of good storyline.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Where to begin with this one? I was tempted half-way through it to log on here and add it to the "100 greatest Chinese films" thread but thought 'Nah, it's too young'. I thought it was a film made by someone with a blind spouse who wanted to depict what it's like to be blind. You know, one of those kinda films. But the people in this film are not shiny happy people. And, btw, it has little to do with the fact that they are all professional massagers.Here's how I judge this is a good film: I often throw something on around midnight, knowing I will fall asleep soon, just to get a feel for what it's like. I couldn't look away from this thing. In fact, I immediately started watching it a second time--a further test of how good I think a film is: how soon do I start wanting a re-watch? If I think about it before I've finished the first viewing, the film is kicking butt.The film has a few "sighted" actors who do a good job of acting blind, but they kind of stand out because they are better looking than the blind non-actors. (The film goes meta on that point, too).It starts off like it's going to be about some kid who loses his sight in a car accident and is told it's only temporary. He eventually learns he was being lied to and won't get his sight back. He tries, unsuccessfully, to kill himself. This part is narrated in voice-over by a (non-character) woman who also reads the opening credit roll and returns throughout. Usually films resort to voice-over as a last resort, but it works here. The guy takes a job at a massage establishment run by two blind men and staffed by all blind or partially blind people. The film then morphs into an ensemble piece about several of them: their loves and lusts, not so much their blindness. So it's a film about 'standard' things that go on in the lives of people who happen to be blind. A couple of the blind women steal the show.The amazing (and perhaps frustrating to some) thing about the film is how it does give you an idea of what it's like to be blind. You really get a sense that things are just swirling around rather than being observed. The film's notion of focus is genius. There are lots of truly emotional moments in the film (only slightly off-center from what we're used to because the characters are blind) but they aren't maudlin or melodramatic at all. They are more darkish and almost creepy. This is no after-school special. There are scenes where the central dialog takes place off camera, or, right when a scene screams out for some resolve it's simply dropped. That happens a lot. Very weird. There's scenes where you feel the discomfort for the characters who, during a moment of drama, can't read body language or facial expressions. It punches. Whoever shot this film should win an award. The direction, editing, and cinematography are wildly inventive.I didn't get the ending of the film but the last shot is a truly beautiful smile.I was all psyched up to find a new director I could look forward to seeing more from. Turns out Ye Lou (of Suzhou River and Summer Palace fame) directed this thing. Everything makes sense now-- and by that I mean this is a masterful, difficult, frustrating, beautiful film. It has a few big blunders, but ALL great films do.

A movie on a group of minority who deserves the same love and care like all of us. It helps us to look at life from a different perspective. With lots of sincerity and excellent use of camera to mimic their world. Before I went I thought it would talk about massage but it is a group drama to tell the love and lust of blind people. It cleverly uses some scenes to tell the advantage and/or disadvantages of being blind while basically telling us what life is like for a blind masseur – which is probably the same as a seeing person.Since I have not read the original novel, I would not know the detailed background of each character. But for a movie, it seems there are a lot of story lines going on and the only thing that links them together is that they all work for a massage parlor in Nanjing. It would have been nice if more time would dedicate deeply into the main characters and their relations with each other. I am glad I went to Dialogue in the Dark and experienced what it would be like to be blind – once your vision is lost, your other senses such as hearing, smelling, touching and tasting become sharper. You will probably have better memory and you may even "look" at the world more clearly. Hence what the main stream considers beautiful may not matter much to a blind person. On the contrary, self-respect, is more important. The director cleverly uses the flirting scene and crying alone scene which highlights the shortcomings in the world of the visually impaired. However, during a black out, it is the blind who helps the others to safety.Similar to the mainstream world, blind people love, have desires and dignity. They also deserve to be treated as such.

The blinds they also need love and to be loved. As a normal human, I watched this movie at the angle like a god.How I found it difficulty to survive, it is extremely lucky when we are able to see the light coming through. I know the movie is not face the main stream and not for box office, the director LOU Ye who doesn't even care maybe.However, too many branched sometimes easily make me confused, and continually using large aperture and shakes will not help to tell stories.The director sacrifices the feeling of audiences to show a real world what the blinds feel like in their world. It's just not enough because the movie is not only for the blinds.

Another movie that played at the Berlin International Festival this year, this feels a lot like a documentary. The reality of it all does strike you early on. Like with other movies you can see more than the characters involved. In this case, you literally can see more. The acting is superb, which is not an easy task for the cast to pull off.The story itself is not difficult to follow, but the drama that unfolds will either engulf you and keep you entangled with it all, or you will be annoyed by it. The acting as said before is not to be fault here though, this just might not be your type of movie. This is a slow burner and very character driven. Actually mostly character driven, with not many other highlights. Still the world that is portrayed is fascinating and sad at the same time ...