|
Cast:
Chow
Yun Fat
Sylvia
Chang
Huang
Kun Huse
Ng
Man Tat
Producer:
Catherine
Huen
Director:
Johnnie
To
Score:
 
|
ALL
ABOUT AH LONG
AKA:
All About Ah-Long
Year:
1989 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Screen
legend Chow Yun Fat has, to date, managed to win a record
three Best Actor plaudits at the Hong Kong Film Awards - a
total recently equalled by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. Among the
three wins is Chow's performance in this highly-regarded
production, a film that also continued the rise in status of
director Johnnie To. Once again it's interesting to watch this
1988 film today and see how Chow Yun Fat handles the kind of
dramatic role that he hasn't received since moving to
Hollywood.
Chow
Yun Fat is the eponymous Ah Long, a scruffy yet hardworking
father who looks after his young son alone. Although somewhat
rough and ready, Ah Long and his son Porky enjoy a very good
relationship with both playing big parts in each other's
lives. A chance of some much needed money comes their way when
a company comes to Hong Kong to film a television advert and
Porky is asked to attend the audition. Ah Long's friend takes
Porky along to the screen test and is subsequently surprised
when one of the company's representatives turns out to be Ah
Long's ex-girlfriend Por Por. Por Por takes an instant shine
to Porky without realising that he is in fact her son - a
child she thought had died before she went to the U.S. - and
that Ah Long is happily looking after him. The former couple
slowly get reacquainted after the ten year absence and, more
significantly, Por Por gets to know the son she never knew she
had. Mother and son quickly form a bond that becomes plain to
see as they catch up on the decade that they were apart. Ah
Long has reason to be optimistic about the future as he
perceives his old relationship with Por Por to be reawakening
and a happy reunion on the cards. These instincts prove to be
wide of the mark, however, as Por Por reveals that he
intentions are to take Porky back to the U.S. with her and
marry her long-term boyfriend shortly afterwards. With his
world shattered, Ah Long must decide between what is best for
his son and his own future happiness.
One
major trap that critics have fallen into when discussing ' All
About Ah Long' is to label it as simply a Hong Kong version of
'Kramer vs. Kramer'; the two films both have their merits and
deserve separate examination. Unlike the American drama, 'All
About Ah Long' does not concentrate its running time on the
actual custody battle, but instead explores the various bonds
that form between father, mother and son. Importantly,
director Johnnie To doesn't allow audience sympathy to centre
on just one character as both Ah Long and Por Por have obvious
flaws and vulnerabilities. This aspect of the film means that
is more than just the average tear-jerker and therefore
deserves a wider audience. Chow Yun Fat is excellent as Ah
Long and richly deserves the praise that he received after the
film's release, but Sylvia Chang matches her powerhouse
co-star every minute that she's on screen. Huang Kun Huse as
Porky is the real revelation of the film as he avoids the
over-the-top acting of some child stars and delivers a sublime
performance. The heavy drama of the film may not be to
everyone's tastes and the film offers no happy endings or neat
conclusions. For those willing to explore other genres of Hong
Kong films though, 'All About Ah Long' is a quality film that
continues to have a resonance after it has ended.
|
