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Cast:
Eason
Chan
Charlene
Choi
Chin
Suk Lan
Kenneth
Tsang
Pauline
Yam
Liu
Kai Chi
Fung
Wai Hang
Producer:
Gordon
Chan
Joe
Ma
Director:
Joe
Ma
Score:
 
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FUNERAL
MARCH
AKA:
N/A
Year:
2001 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Quiet
and unassuming funeral director Duan (Chan) is one day asked
to complete an unusual task by a young woman he meets: to
organise her funeral. After explaining that she has cancer and
therefore expects to die in the near future, Yee (Choi),
specifies her demands for her very personal memorial. Duan
reluctantly takes on the job even though he has his
reservations about Yee's desire to give up so quickly.
Accompanying this young client on her trip to the U.S. to
finalise certain matters, Duan encourages Yee not to give up
and not to refuse further treatment to combat her worsening
condition. His request is ignored and even her family's pleas
fall upon deaf ears. Spending time with Duan begins to change
her perspective on life though and she finally agrees to
return to the hospital in Hong Kong to have her operation.
When this proves successful and Yee leaves the hospital, she
resumes her friendship with her new best friend. Duan however
feels that she cannot function relying on other people and
therefore attempts to cut ties with the fully recovered Yee.
These actions reveal aspects of his own personal life that he
wants to keep secret, but that come to the surface when his
devoted friend refuses to let him go.
Viewers
will no doubt spot similarities between 'Funeral March', 'C'est
La Vie Mon Cherie' and acclaimed Korean drama 'Christmas
In August'. Each of these excellent productions deal with the
growth of love against the backdrop of heartache and misery; 'C'est
La Vie Mon Cherie' didn't use a character's illness as the
catalyst of the storyline as the other two do, but it shared
the understated nature of a relationship. 'Funeral March' once
again shows how Eastern cinema can produce a emotionally
powerful film out of what may seem an overly sentimental
theme. By avoiding Hollywood histrionics or schmaltz, a
well-worn plot again manages to seem fresh and deeply moving -
something that the two previously mentioned films also
achieved. The success of Joe Ma's drama is in its empathetic
characters and heartfelt performances. Eason Chan is superb in
a role that would have seemed beyond him a year or so ago and
he really shines in the film's more delicate moments. Relative
newcomer Choi begins with unease, but by the end has won the
viewer over with her handling of certain dramatic moments. Ma'
direction is also more refined than in his other efforts this
year, especially the disappointing 'Fighting For Love'. If
there's anything that constitutes a major flaw it is the often
obtrusive and heavy-handed music. Although starting with a
fairly melodic and gentle tune, the soundtrack ends with a
cloying piano track that smacks of American TV dramas. It's a
shame because the quality of this fine feature is far above
these unfortunate trappings. 'Funeral March' nevertheless has
a strength that will appeal to all of those who are familiar
with the best of the genre.
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