Writer: Mitchell Wong

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Watch this if you liked: "Love Is Not Blind", "Girlfriend, Boyfriend"

How would you feel when you've woken from a beautiful dream just to discover that reality is nothing like what you've been dreaming about. He Man wakes up from a coma to realize that she has lost five years of her life. The first thing she remembers upon coming out of the coma was being in a minor accident with her husband during her honeymoon five years ago. The thing is that she couldn't remember the accident she was involved in that occurred two years ago; the one that put her into the coma.

"The Stolen Years" starts off with found-footage cinematography - scenes are recorded through a handheld camera. You might find it pretty annoying with the shaky movements but it steadies up after about 20 minutes into the movie. Despite the shaky handheld recording, it enables you to relate to the this generation's urge to document everything we do on camera. The story is otherwise your stereotypical Chinese love story, but with a strong twist. The first attraction of this film was actor Joseph Chang who plays the lead male Xie Yu. His good looks matches well with starlet Fay Bai Baihe who plays his (ex) wife, and they have good chemistry on screen.

This movie will bring you to tears with their various plots, which provokes viewers to ponder: what if they were in that situation? Director Barbara Wong directed this film in such brilliance that her movie leaves the audience wanting more. The choice of background music is very well chosen as well as it supports the scenes. However, you may find some scenes pretty cliche and corny.

There is not much to say about "The Stolen Years" other than to urge people to go watch it and get in touch with their sensitive side. The true beauty of this film is the great performances put on by actor Joseph Chang and actress Fay Bai Baihe. Be warned; please bring a packet of tissues with you or two packets if you are a sensitive person. You would be deeply moved by this great film.

Cinema Online, 12 November 2013