Unreal, yet so real

The editing is marvelous. There is no distinct story line but a melange of action, reflection and imagination that convoluting into a story of a semi-dream. A hopeless romantic, a man who has it all having a sensual affair with his secretary, this is the oldest plot in the book, but the twist that the object of his lust is a woman with a plain look and a low self-esteem piques viewers' interest instantly.

The quasi-somniloquy conversation between lovers and the cinéma vérité soliloquy ask, also prod the viewers to ask the antique questions of "what is love" and "why are you". "It is about love, it is not cheery," an innocent voice reminds viewers in the film. No, it is not cheery. It is passionate; it is agonizing; it is racy; it is self-doubting；it is tender, and it is also tempestuous. The overlapping of different time and different places combining with the inconsistency of characters' sometimes amusingly direct remarks and other times meandering philosophical-like dialogs has the ring of ridicule. Fortunately the film is soaked in Schubert's music, whispering it is a romance comedy after all.

Russell said, "caution in love is the most fatal to true happiness" I have some admiration for a man chasing a leaving bus, but the ironic ending put a damper on the dream. An reality check: there is a consequence for following your heart too much.