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The film is a rare one in Hong Kong that portrays father-daughter
relations. Director Pang Ho-cheung (also for screenplay) uses a
complex, non-linear and restricted narrative (watch it, no spoiler
here) for the story of a mystery of incest and manipulates parallel
editing to create twists by making use of match of action of no
spatial relation, thereby adding very strong hermeneutic momentum
to the readability of the film. Pang adopts a bilateral perspective
of framing: (1) portraying police constable Ma Chen-shing (Chapman
To) from the perspective of her daughter, Yan (Isabella Leong),
and (2) framing the reversed perspective from Ma.
Isabella is not only the real name of the character in the leading
role (Isabella Leong) but also the names of another character, Yan's
mom, and the dog in the story. The use of the name is a clue on
how Pang manipulates his artifice.
Yan's genuine wish is the reunion with her dad. Yet the wish is
materialized in her search for her lost puppy, Isabella, which is
also the name of her demised mom. Pang's use of the name signifies
Yan's hope for a family reunion and this is later depicted in the
narrative by her denial in finding the puppy because of her fear
of parting from her father, Ma, connoting Yan's priority in reunion
with Ma. Ma assumes a patriarchal role in teaching Yan in taking
care of herself whereas Yan efforts in clearing all barriers (Ma's
girlfriends) to her reunion with Ma. The two's moving their baggages
in shambles (in a back shot) is a demarcation between the two's
alienation and compatibility in the first thirds of the film. Pang's
narrative on the evolution of Yan's character is smooth.
Pang uses a deluge of stylistic cinematographic and acoustic features:
use of lighting for guiding audience's attention, mirror reflex,
asymmetrical framing, diegetic song, inter-titles, abrupt pause
of music in scene transition and complete silence, all being a shadow
of Wong Kar-wai.
Though the story portrays the melancholy of both characters from
the beginning to the middle, it is distinct to Wong Kar-wai's movies
in that the characters are zealous and prepared for an upright life
at the denouement. Peter Kam's award winning music (original scores)
in violin and cello and the adopted Portuguese song (female vocalist)
are moody. The film also features fine astringent staging from Chapman
To. Leong's staging is fine as well. The film is good choice for
the Easter.
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