|
Cast:
Francis
Ng
Sandra
Ng
Simon
Yam
Eric
Kot
Lau
Yee Tat
Angela
Tong
Action:
Adam
Chan
Producer:
Joe
Ma
Director:
Wilson
Yip
Score:
 
|
JULIET
IN LOVE
AKA:
Butterfly Lovers
Year:
2000 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Every
year in Hong Kong cinema there appears a few films that seem
to come out of nowhere and gain a formidable critical
reputation. Past examples have included 1990's 'Swordsman'
and 1993's 'C'est
La Vie Mon Cherie' - both garnered critical plaudits and
enjoyed worldwide popularity. The year 2000 saw Wilson Yip's
'Juliet In Love' enter the aforementioned category and gain
numerous nominations in the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards.
Director Yip had already given an indication of his ability to
combine an oft-seen narrative with his own unique style in
'Bullets Over Summer' and for 'Juliet In Love' he further
refines his own cinematic language.
Judy
(Sandra Ng) reaches one of the lowest points in her life when
her husband leaves her after she has a breast removal
operation. This shattering experience leaves Judy questioning
her own value so she decides to travel to the countryside to
stay with her grandfather and take time to be by herself.
While working in a local restaurant, Judy observes a cocky
small-time crook named Jordon (Francis Ng) who attempts to
throw his weight around to get his own way. When the
restaurant's owner Brother On - who is also one of the area's
most powerful triads - humbles him, Jordon apologises to Judy
for the inconvenience he's caused and leaves a certain
impression on her. The two meet again when Brother On is
rushed to hospital and, to avoid the wrath of his wife, his
mistress' new-born son is left with Jordon to look after. With
the baby's mother unwilling to accept responsibility for the
child and Jordon being promised a relief from the considerable
debt he owes to Brother On, the prospective gangster is forced
to look after the baby and show his sensitive side. Brother On
also persuades Judy to give free reign to her maternal
instincts and help Jordon nurture the baby until On is ready
to leave hospital. As the two differing personalities are
forced together in this unusual situation, they realise that
they have certain issues in common and both feel alienated
from society. When Brother On recovers from his illness and
reclaims his illegitimate child, Judy and Jordon have
developed something more than mere friendship and both have
meaning put back into their lives.
'Juliet
In Love' could be well-described as a economic and perhaps
minimal love story; there are no grand gestures or
over-the-top histrionics. However, this certainly doesn't mean
that the film is not moving and effective in the goals it
reaches for. Director Yip achieves these powerful virtues by
allowing two great performers to take centre stage and boost
the film a couple of notches above average. The subtle
interplay between Sandra Ng and Francis Ng is a major strength
of the film with both bringing warmth and power to their
characters and making what seems an unlikely romance at first
look progressively more appealing. Aside from the two main
stars, supporting parts by Simon Yam and Eric Kot add to the
excellence of the film. 'Juliet In Love' is not the classic
that it sometimes promises to be though and the obvious reason
for this is the inadequate ending. Without giving too much
away, the ending seems an easy way out after all the gradual
challenges that the previous 80 minutes had presented. Yip's
previous film, 'Bullets Over Summer', also suffered from a
disappointing ending with the overtly-self conscious style
taking away some of the effect of the previous hour. This
criticism, although taking some of the shine of the overall
effect of 'Juliet In Love', is not strong enough to downgrade
a fine film. A thoughtful film that is certainly worth
watching.
|
