Striking at the nerve of a sensitive issue

Love for Life is such a groundbreaking film that it is a surprise it will see the light of day.

The first high-profile Chinese feature on the sensitive subject of HIV/AIDS is a searing look into the lives of early 1990s' villagers who carried the virus and, worse than that, the stigma associated with it. The filmmakers, especially director Gu Changwei, Oscar nominee for best cinematography for Farewell My Concubine, display an honesty and integrity about difficult issues in Chinese society that should bring enormous pride to the country's cinema.

But that does not mean it is a high-minded message movie.