“You have to make him hate you. You have to do what he hated the most when he was still alive. Anger him. So much that he returns.”  A rather unorthodox and desperate but futile attempt to bring a beloved one back to life.

But it was one of director Barbara Wong’s best decisions in The Secret, a Chinese film telling the melancholic story of how Kai Feng (Leon Lai), a widower, summons the soul of his late wife, Qiu Jie (Wang Luo Dan), back home.  Life returns to normal with their son and the family is happy again, but there’s a catch—Qiu Jie mustn’t know she’s a soul, or she’ll disappear.  All is good… Until Jimmy (JJ Lin), Kai Feng’s younger cousin, sees her.

I sat down to the film as JJ Lin’s fan and left teary-eyed, as a touched audience member who unearthed yet another truth behind the philosophical complexity of life.  The film sent its message in a heart-wrenching way—cherish those around you, especially those who love you in silence.

This simple theory was addressed melodramatically in The Secret, where only those who truly love Qiu Jie can see her soul.  Wong very wisely maintained a touch of realism amidst the fantasy elements, because why should just anyone be able to see your spirit after your death?

The film’s pastel hues would have suited a slice-of-life type of  Korean drama better and seemed a bit too down-to-earth for a movie, but perhaps it’s for the best.  Had the cinematography been grandeur with resounding music and all kinds of camera angles and shot sizes, one would have been too distracted to reflect on life’s sorrows while following Kai Feng in his journey to protect his family.

The Secret may not quench your thirst for turmoil and action, but it takes you on an emotional adventure, where a dark secret emerges towards the end.  The eternal divide between the couple was just the beginning—the plot twist is the masterstroke that leaves you woebegone.  You’ll truly feel the pain of losing a loved one.

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CJ is a creative writing student from Singapore Polytechnic who spends her time creating movie adventures in her head. Films are her life, and so is writing. She may seem like a happy soul with no worries, but is in fact one who hopes to bring her secrets and dreams of fantasy to the big screen one day.