Monsoon Wife (2004) Reviews

• Unpleasant Story, Magnificent Sightseeing

  claudio_carvalho2007-05-26

  In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the American student of Arts Thomas McIntyre (McGeorge Robinson) lives with the former prostitute Teeda (Linda Shing) and her daughter Ani and survives painting pictures and doing small jobs. When his former college friend Cliff (Rob Stockton) comes to Phnom Penh, he offers US$ 5,000.00 to Thomas to make a tour and show the red light district and the prostitutes of the city. Cliff comes with his wife and former girlfriend and passion of Thomas, Crystal (Constance Frenzen), creating a tension among the trio. But Thomas needs the money to help his expatriated friend Marty (Steve Boss), who owes a large amount to some criminals, and accepts to disclose Phnom Penh for one week to the couple. "Monsoon Wife" is a very unpleasant and badly resolved story and a magnificent sightseeing in Cambodia. First, Cliff and Marty are despicable characters, exploring the existent children prostitution in this poor country. Second, the reason why Crystal accepts to marry a nasty guy like Cliff and travel to Cambodia with him, and why Cliff brings Crystal if his intention was to explore the dark side of Phnom Penh? Third, how could Thomas, Teeda and Ani stay alive after killing a dangerous gangster and letting his partner alive? The story should be limited to the dramatic situation of the exploration of children by the sex industry, without the unnecessary abduction of Ani and the consequences. The camera work is completely amateurish, but the cast has good performances. The Brazilian title ("Obsession") has nothing to do with the story. My vote is five. Title (Brazil): "Obsessão" ("Obsession")

• Well-told story set in Southeast Asia's sex trade

  mike-j-pullen2005-10-05

  Director Marlin Darrah's first dramatic feature examines the world of Cambodia's sex trade through the eyes of American expatriates, foreign tourists and the Cambodian people. The film was produced on a shoestring budget on location in Cambodia, but has a rich quality that suggests a bigger budget. The story begins in the capital of Phnom Penh and focuses on two couples: an American expat and his Cambodian girlfriend, and a visiting American couple who share a history with the expat. The film takes us on a journey through the decaying colonial grandeur of the capital, with its riverside hotels and neon brothels, and into the countryside for a climatic scene at the Buddhist ruin Angkor Wat. Several of the actors turn in memorable performances as expectations are revealed and behaviors alter away from home. It's a modern look at "The World of Susie Wong," where every thing seems to be for sale, including your soul.

• "A heart-wrenching movie set in an exotic and lawless land."

  msunago2005-09-19

  This hybrid movie is composed primarily of fictional feature film elements mixed with documentary elements. I liked that style. One character, Cliff, a college nemesis of Thomas who comes to seek out the sex industry, brings a video handicam, which he turns on his subjects and himself. The black and white footage the character shoots is shown in the film, including street footage taken from the back of a small motorcycle and footage of his dark escapades in the back rooms of the brothels. Seeing the movie, I felt very repelled by the child prostitution issue. There are a couple of very challenging, very true-to-life scenes viewers must get through. They're tough to watch but are important to include. I really appreciated this movie. There are some beautiful scenes of Angkor Wat that help to soften the hard and realistic social issues this movie delves into. And the goodness of the ordinary people of Cambodia and its Buddhist cultural roots shine through in Monsoon Wife, particularly through the character of Teeda, the heart of the film. One important scene occurs when Thomas returns home feeling degraded after taking Cliff to brothels. He comes into his apartment to find both Teeda and Crystal asleep under mosquito netting. Thomas may still be uncertain about what he wants and who he wants to be with, but this image forces him to come to terms with his desires and grow up. I've traveled throughout SE Asia, and this is a good movie to give people a very good idea of the beauty and the tragedy of this region.

• Independent film-making at its finest

  Samarkand2005-09-19

  An exceptional movie. Independent film-making at its finest. I just watched Monsoon Wife at a film festival - a very eye-opening drama on the horrors of poverty-based child prostitution in Asia. It's a bold and original movie with talented directing and actors. Weaving throughout the movie is a story of lost love and new love, one that overrides cultural barriers. I was left with an odd mix of emotions. On the one hand, joy from witnessing love manifest in a very special type of fulfillment, and on the other, a question arises from within, 'What can we do?' about the devastating effects of child prostitution. It takes real intestinal fortitude to not only be willing to look in places that are extremely hard to delve into, but to also present close friends as being perpetrators. I especially commend the director's and the writer's ability to present the impact of this tragedy not only on the lives of the children, but the devastating emptiness that engulfs the perpetrators as well. You have my highest regard for your noble venture. I recommend this movie to all.

• good little film

  rkcullis2005-09-19

  Monsoon Wife is a good little film shot entirely on location in and around Phnom Penh Cambodia. With a tawdry backdrop involving child prostitution and those who benefit from this activity, an old fashioned love triangle develops among three Americans, one of which is an ex-patriot romantically involved with his "live-in" Cambodian girlfriend. The film's back story shows how the ex-patriot once assisted in the recruitment of young girls to work in one of the local disreputable "Kareoke" bars, but later he cleans up his act. What I enjoyed about the story is an ironic twist, where the ex-patriot's past begins to catch up with him as the local neighborhood Cambodian mafia begins recruiting his own girlfriend's daughter as a child prostitute.