Here is a very self-conscious attempt to bridge the US-China divide through the medium of glossy, handsomely mounted cinema.
- Andrew Pulver, Guardian [UK], November 03, 2011
Not even the second best Hugh Jackman cameo of the year can save it from being little more than a period curio.
- Anna Smith, Empire Magazine, November 01, 2011
Unfortunately that truth isn't illuminated with any originality: tearful confessions and pensive gazing out windows are commonplace.
- Craig Mathieson, The Age (Australia), September 21, 2011
A quality arthouse film, beautifully photographed and very well acted.
- Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia), September 14, 2011
Despite strong performances and a rich premise, this is let down by its own self-importance and sentimentality.
- Annette Basile, FILMINK (Australia), September 13, 2011
With weeping violins, wailing cellos and melancholy piano wall to wall, this sentimental story of sisterly love found, lost and found again is beautifully made. The big but is the needlessly complicated storytelling
- Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile, September 11, 2011
An intricate and beautiful film about friendship and its implications
- Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile, September 11, 2011
Sisters-for-life torn apart in schmaltzy Chinese melodrama.
- Don Groves, sbs.com.au, September 01, 2011
It's a coordinated, stylish dance, but the steps are awfully familiar.
- Tom Long, Detroit News, July 29, 2011
In this lavish adaptation of Lisa See's novel, the complex chronologies of the parallel narratives are skillfully handled by director Wayne Wang, which makes his reliance on unbridled sentimentality all the more irritating.
- Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader, July 29, 2011
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" aims for the heartstrings and only strikes a few notes.
- Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel, July 27, 2011
The film is visually sumptuous but emotionally inert. It never draws in the viewer.
- Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic, July 22, 2011
It's the No-Joy, Bad-Luck Club.
- Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune, July 22, 2011
Emphasizes melodrama over character development, until the proceedings feel like a rabbit hole of misfortune.
- Stephanie Merry, Washington Post, July 21, 2011
A story of much visual grace and, sadly, considerable narrative awkwardness.
- Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 21, 2011
The drastic alterations to Lisa See's compelling novel about the lifelong friendship between two women in 19th century China are unsettling, at least for fans of the original bestseller, and they detract a bit too much from the story See so artfully told.
- Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, August 04, 2011
Bears little resemblance to the book, and even less resemblance to a good movie.
- Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times, July 21, 2011
Visual flourishes aren't enough to detract from a confused plot and mawkishly sentimental overtones.
- Paul Weedon, Little White Lies, November 03, 2011
An ever-so-tasteful, watered-down and unnecessarily-improved-upon adaptation of Lisa See's bestselling 2005 novel of the same name.
- Leah Rozen, The Wrap, October 07, 2011
Once we've quickly digested the fortune-cookie message that modern women are as bound by obligations as their grandmothers were, all we can savor is the scenery.
- Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 21, 2011
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