The Vertical Ray of the Sun

Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung (The Scent of Green Papaya) approaches film less like a narrative medium and more like a painter's canvas; his films are full of lush, swooningly beautiful imagery and carefully restrained, subtly concealed emotion. Unfortunately for people who like things like plot and action, it also makes the proceedings as dull as Warhol. Vertical Ray is the story of three Vietnamese sisters, all of whom have absolutely stunning cheekbones. Sadly, bone structure is not everything, as all three are in unfulfilling relationships: The oldest is married to an emotionally distant photographer hiding (what else?) a Shocking Secret from His Past; the second sister is married to a writer whom she suspects of cheating on her; and the third is just a mite bit too comfortable sleeping in the same bed as her younger brother. Over the course of two hours, not much happens, but a lot of beauty is captured on film by ace cinematographer Mark Lee. Vertical Ray of the Sun sure is gorgeous, but it's a lot like my last date with a supermodel: I should've brought a book.