My Blueberry Nights

Director: Wong Kar-Wai

Starring: Norah Jones, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz

My Blueberry Nights, brought to you by the same director who produced 2046 and In the Mood for Love, was one of the most anticipated films of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. One must say it has a lot going for it - an all-star cast, including Jude Law and Norah Jones, a famous director who has a quite innovative approach to photography, and a well-managed publicity campaign.

The story, on the other hand, was not given quite enough credit during all the media buzz - it was treated either as a conventional unreciprocated love story, or the stress was put on the (internal) journey movie side; but the truth is, My Blueberry Nights has a truly original story that does not quite fit in either of these boxes. The story is that of Jeremy (Jude Law) and Elizabeth (Norah Jones). The two are good friends, even though Jeremy might hope for more; and when Elizabeth finds out, through Jeremy, that her boyfriend is cheating on her, her world collapses. She sets out on a journey to discover herself and to pick up the threads of a broken life. She will find out more about people, herself, and loneliness.

Contrast could be the word to describe the film in all its aspects - contrast in the story, in the acting, but first and foremost in the photography. My Blueberry Nights is a Wong Kar Wai film; and as usual, the colours are highly played up: the film's poster, showing the two main characters under neon lights, shows how the director has gone for highly vivid, contrasting colours; thus stressing the contrast between the two protagonists, between the two sides of the story.

Despite Jude Law's star status and acting experience, the film is mostly led by cinema newcomer Norah Jones, who gives an impressive performance as Elizabeth. On top of that, she contributes to the film with her songs that complete Wong Kar Wai's work, adding another layer of contrast between the violent photography, and the smoothness and calm of her songs.

Unconventional, and purposefully so, My Blueberry Nights most certainly lives up to the expectations one might have had from the media buzz that surrounded its release.

Pierre Schramm