If you are looking for a movie to watch on Valentine’s Day to kindle some sparks, this movie is worth a second look at.

The movie professes that love is a process of rehabilitation-that hearts must be mended before they can embrace love. Metaphors on the dangers of falling in love abound such as getting lost in a deep forest and having breathing difficulties due to high-altitude disease.

And the plot is incongruous at times: Tian (Li Guang Jie) got lost in the deep mountains for seven years before finally dying. While the film tries its best to win over sympathy for this storyline, I thought if he has to die, he would have died earlier considering the lack of food and the cold temperature in the deep mountains.

Directed by Wai Ka-fai, the film unites Louis Koo and Sammi Cheng after a nine years hiatus.

Michael (Louis Koo), a popular Hong Kong actor, is dumped at the altar by sweetheart Yuan Yuan (Gao Yuan Yuan) who forsakes him for a senselessly unglamorous Wang Biao Qiang. Michael turns to alcoholism, and is nursed back to health by doting female assistants at the Deep Woods Hotel owned by Sue (Sammi Cheng).

After Michael recovers from his grief, he discovers that Sue like him is wounded with shadows of the past: her husband got lost in the woods many years ago and she refuses to come to terms that he will never return again.

Unable to win Sue’s heart, he attempts to free her of her angst, producing a film around the storyline of Sue and her husband. Michael adds a crucial twist though, in his film Sue’s husband does not die but returns to his love. Now, female audience will find this sweet: a suitor going out of his way to help her reconcile her unhappy past. (making this film a good choice for movie-goers who are dating).

Overall, the cast gives a resounding performance. Louis Koo is hilarious, opening the movie as someone stricken down by high altitude disease. Sammi Cheng is convincing as the long suffering woman who clams up to love.

Rating: 4/5