Barbara Wood - Das Haus der Harmonie (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

Two couples, two cultures, two continents, but just ONE destiny

[TashC · 7/10 · 24 August 2006]

This two part TV movie is a cross cultural love story that spans two generations and two continents, and is anything but harmonious. Filmed entirely in Singapore, it features cherished Fann Wong and headstrong Maggie Q. Fate doesn't get better than this.

Singapore in 1927 is lusciously beautiful, but feudal. Mei Ling is resigned to an arranged marriage, until she rescues an American stranger who has been mugged into amnesia. She nurses him back to health and true love. Unfortunately, his memory and marriage send him home and pregnant Mei Ling is deserted to disgrace.

But no obstacles can defeat love and twenty years later their daughter, Harmony, sets out to find her father and discovers that she cannot escape love and fate.

The Making of extra on the DVD covers the challenges and achievements of this glossy Singapore-German co-production. For example, the film includes German, Singaporean and American actors and so, in order to get the best performances from each of them, the Director had each act in their own language. In the version I saw, the post-production had them all speaking Mandarin, but I understand that there is an all German version also available.

The Sweet Asian Story

[jm_mathias-1 · 29 May 2006]

An impossible love story between an American business man and a Chinese woman from Singapore, two different cultures, united by love.

Is the Pacific Ocean wide enough? When a woman falls in love of a foreign man, Is there a reason for not to think about the consequences and go ahead following her heart's directions? When a man falls in love of a woman who lives thousand of miles away from his hometown, Is there a reason to give up everything for love? I watched this movie with my family and we loved it.

The story-line is superb, the plot and the script are beautiful, the cast is excellent, and it gives us a view of the great actors there are in Singapore, especially Fann Wong (starring).

Take a look at the wonderful character played by Maggie Q, who is an American actress. She's lovely.

After watching this movie I have to give it 10/10 for two main reasons: Unexpected ending and excellent script.

Jose, Spain

Lovely German adaptation of Asian culture

[alla_t · 10/10 · 14 September 2006]

I watched the German DVD version of this film. The film is stunningly beautiful, the sets and costumes are detailed, the cinematography is lush and breathtaking, and the acting of the various cast members are simply excellent.

Fann Wong plays Mei Ling, who falls in love with an American businessman Richard Barclay (played by German actor Philipp Brenninkmeyer). Frowned upon in the feudal and conservative Singapore of the 1920s, she leaves to bring up their mixed-blood daughter, Harmony (Maggie Q). Harmony journeys to Los Angeles, where she gets involved romantically with Gideon (played by German actor Daniel Morgenroth), while battling social discrimination.

The German and Singapore cast were a perfect fit, and each excelled in their roles. Credit goes to Maggie Q for the best performance in her career in a very plum role, as well as the talented Daniel Morgenroth who combines good looks with a heavyweight performance.

The talented Singaporean actress Fann Wong (Shanghai Knights) who appears in the first part of the film is a scene-stealer. Her lily-fresh beauty is captured on the film, and her performance is nuanced and sublime. I wish to see more of her on international movie productions.

Cheng Pei Pei, Andrea Jonasson, Monika Peitsch and the old man who plays Fann's father delivered good performances as well. Overall, I have to say this show stole my heart. It is tightly crafted, exquisitely filmed, superbly acted and well-produced.

Good Love drama story

[lia00027 · 8/10 · 27 January 2009]

This drama basically is the story about love surpassing many boundaries across countries, races, traditions, and cultures.

Ending spoiler: On the day of opening of "Hose of Harmony" in Singapore eventually Harmony's grandfather Dr. Sung, Mei Ling's father accepted her as his granddaughter, then she had a phone call that one of her relative was sick so she rushed to go to her relative's home. In aunt Wah's home, Harmony received a letter that said Gideon was ready to be with her made her crying and wished that he was there with her and Gideon showed up, they hugged and kissed.... the end....

Nice drama with not so nice ending. After long hours (4 hours to be exact) watched within these 2 days I expect more for the ending. Guess because of the tight budget so they decided with THIS SO SIMPLE ENDING. How i wish they could shoot one more scene where Harmony, Gideon, and their daughter Charlotte together.

Overall it's a good drama, the acting of the actors are great. Especially for the actor who was acting as Gideon, he deserved the word "EXTREMELY GOOD" FOR ROMANTC RULE. Maggie Q had improved a lot compare to "Naked weapon", but now I think she already lost her touch when acting in those Hollywood movies as the sweetness only. While Fann really good portrayed a young traditional shy Chinese girl emotion, which is difficult to do now because the truth is we're living in a free-modern country (singapore now). Yang Pei Pei good acting as Mei ling's loyal servant, the actor who was acting as Richard Barclay who showed a direct affection toward Mei ling which was nice just that his scenes were to short, and the actor who's acting as Dr. Sung aka Mei ling's father who portrayed really good emotion as a father but also man who respected Chinese traditions and values at the same time.

A complicated love story takes place in Singapur

[fernandez_1989 · 18 December 2006]

An elegant gentle tall very handsome white businessman from United States falls in love with a Singaporean belle who believes in fate. They share a common interest and discover the passion between each other. Beautiful Singapore.

Harmony, a beautiful bi-racial girl, is the fruit of that unlimited desire of a weird love.She goes to America in search of his father and she also finds great opportunities. The actors from Singapore play very credible characters, and maybe the locations of the movie aren't very good. It would have been great if they had gone to California to shot part of the movie.

Maggie Q was amazing, she is an underrated American actress and Fann Wong was at her best. The ending of the movie will not disappoint you. It needs a better soundtrack I think. All in all is a good story, interesting to watch if you have time and you will dream of falling in love with an American man.