Romancing in Thin Air: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong/China, 2012
Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-Hoi, Ryker Chan, Jevons Au
Cast: Louis Koo, Sammi Cheng, Li Guangjie, Gao Yuanyuan, Wang Baoqiang, Huang Yi, Tien Niu, Wilfred Lau 

Release Date: April 20th, 2026 (UK), April 20th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 111 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Stereo Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Movie star icon Michael (Louis Koo, Throw Down) sinks into a depression after being publicly dumped at the altar by his former fiancée. After embarking on a drunken bender, he is found in a mountain forest, lost and barely responsive, by Sue (Sammi Cheng, Infernal Affairs), who runs the local guesthouse and is still grieving the loss of her husband, who mysteriously disappeared in the woods several years prior. As Sue slowly nurses Michael back to health and the pair learn more about their shared pasts, they embark on a journey to find catharsis in each other." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “Romancing in Thin Air was transferred in high definition by Media Asia Films and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file.”

Romancing in Thin Air comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 31.8 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese. Quality- and range-wise, these two audio tracks are comparable. That said, dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (35 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), extended behind-the-scenes footage (25 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival making-of featurette (9 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Ryker Chan (14 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a video essay about Johnnie To’s romantic melodramas by Sean Gilman titled Another Side of Johnnie To (28 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert Dylan Cheung, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 32-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Rise of Johnnie To and Milkyway written by David Bordwell, an essay titled Altitude Sickness: Johnnie To’s Romancing in Thin Air written by Jake Cole, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

After his fiancée publicly dumps him at the altar, a movie star sinks into a deep depression. He drowns his sorrows in alcohol, and after one drinking binge, he finds himself at a remote lodge in the mountains. The woman who runs the lodge is still grieving the loss of her husband, who disappeared a year ago in the nearby woods. Although combative at first, the movie star and the woman forge a bond as they help each other heal old wounds.

No matter what genre Johnnie To works in, the characters in his films are a common link. The way Johnnie To portrays his characters is not defined by a specific type but rather by their interactions. In many of his films, characters are unable to accomplish their goals individually; instead, they achieve more when they come together as a collective. Case in point: Michael the movie star and Sue the grieving widow from Romancing in Thin Air.

While Romancing in Thin Air has all of the elements that are central to romantic comedies, the result is anything but remotely typical for this genre. In many romantic comedies, there are a mix of highs and lows; however, in Romancing in Thin Air, the characters predominantly face lows throughout the narrative. Despite this downbeat tone, the story remains engaging and ultimately leads to a cathartic and uplifting finale.

The two leads, Louis Koo (Election) in the role of Michael and Sammi Cheng (Infernal Affairs) in the role of Sue, are exceptional in their roles. Both characters are attempting to heal their emotional wounds. Michael copes by drinking heavily, while Sue, a creature of habit, clings to the past, wanting everything in her life to remain unchanged since her husband's disappearance. They have a tremendous amount of onscreen chemistry, which makes their characters' journeys all the more believable.

The well-crafted narrative does a superb job fleshing out characters and building momentum to a beautifully realized finale that pulls at your heartstrings. The most surprising aspect of Romancing in Thin Air is how effectively it employs humor, notably in a scene where Michael discovers a room of his movie memorabilia and Sue’s reaction when asked about it. Johnnie To typically sets his films in urban landscapes, but in Romancing in Thin Air, he is presented with a different canvas that he skillfully utilizes. Ultimately, Romancing in Thin Air offers a thoughtful exploration of love, loss, and grief, maintaining a steady emotional rhythm throughout.

Romancing in Thin Air gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer