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Cast:
Francis
Ng
Anita
Yuen
Ruby
Lin
Liu
Yi
Oh
Ji-Ho
Han
Xiao
Wan
Ju-Lei
Michael
Chow
Writer:
Aubrey
Lam
Director:
Derek
Chiu
Score:
 
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LOVE
TRILOGY
AKA:
N/A
Year:
2004 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
After
seemingly slipping in and out of Hong Kong cinemas with little
consequence, 'Love Trilogy' finds its way on to DVD. It's
appearance is a welcome one for a few reasons: it's the latest
feature from director Derek Chiu, a film-maker who has
slightly lost his way since such great works as 'Comeuppance'
and 'Love
Au Zen', yet who still has so much to offer; Anita Yuen,
one of the most popular actresses of the 90s, is finally given
a chance to appear in a relatively big film after disappearing
in the world of television acting; Francis Ng, an actor who is
putting in some of his very best performances of late, gets to
play another differing character. For Chiu and Yuen it might
be a chance to revive the glories of yesteryear, while Ng can
do no wrong at the moment and so his inclusion is a welcome
one.
With
their marriage going through a difficult patch, Mark (Ng) and
Chui (Yuen) decide to go to the picturesque Yunan province for
their anniversary. Both of them feel unappreciated and both
are at the end of their tether, with money becoming a common
issue for argument. On their arrival, the couple are soon
arguing again and their heated exchanges even begin to disturb
the other holiday-makers. So difficult is their situation that
both threaten their partner with divorce and, despite it
initially being a bluffing technique, they both agree to make
the tragic decision. Meanwhile, on the same holiday, a
newlywed couple are coming to terms with the upheaval in their
lives. Though their relationship appears to be a contented
one, there are clearly problems under the surface and these
are further magnified by the prospect of an unexpected
pregnancy to confront. As their relationship reaches an
impasse, a Korean visitor, Jin, is also reaching a watershed
in his love life when his girlfriend hints to him that they
should go their separate ways. Jin decides to travel up
to nearby Shangri-La - a destination made famous by James
Hilton's novel 'Lost Horizon' - and he asks the broken-hearted
travel guide Liu Hai (Lin) to accompany him. Despite their
respective heartaches, they begin to fall in love with the
breath-taking surroundings acting as an appropriate backdrop.
It's
a pleasure to announce that 'Love Trilogy' is a return to form
for one of Hong Kong's most promising visionaries. Though it
still cannot match his two earlier masterworks, it is
nevertheless closer to his original style than his recent
efforts. Films like 'Frugal Game' and 'Time 4 Hope' had their
moments, but neither really seemed as if it had Chiu's auteur
stamp on them. 'Love Trilogy' allows Chiu's eye for the
emotional inter-twined with the vaguely eccentric to return to
the screen. Such a unique way of handling familiar material is
one of the endless reasons why Derek Chiu deserves a wider
audience than his work currently receives.
The
concept combining a few vignettes together for overall effect
is one that has often stumbled lesser directors (see Joe Ma's
admirable, yet flawed 'Sound Of Colors'). The difficulty is
balancing the episodes in such a way that none of them appears
superfluous and all of them keep the viewer's attention.
Thankfully Chiu has managed such a tricky feat with 'Love
Trilogy' as each of the stories has as much significance and
care taken with them as the last. Initially, after the strong
opening provided by Francis Ng and Anita Yuen, I was worried
that the qualities of this first episode would be lost and the
film's power would gradually descend. Chiu is a film-maker who
has proved that he can tackle thorny subjects with the deft
touch of a seasoned director and so each of the three musings
on love contribute something to the overall effect of the
production. Chiu's skill is that he refuses to strictly
separate each story and allows each of the couples to move
into other parts of the film. This therefore means than none
of the chapters loses its resonance and the film overcomes the
trappings of the format. Such a non-linear narrative is a
credit to Derek Chiu and writer Aubrey Lam whose sparky script
give the whole experience a realistic edge.
'Love
Trilogy' is not a traditional love story though and its
poignant subject matter may not be to all tastes. It is, at
times, slightly upsetting and it certainly isn't amusing
seeing these relationships stumble. However, this is not a
work that attacks marriage - on the contrary, 'Love Trilogy'
shows the need for appreciating the other person and giving
them as much love as is displayed in the early moments of a
romance. Despite the powerful scenes of heartache, Chiu ends
the proceedings of an optimistic note; there's hope for each
of the couples and everyone learns some kind of lesson by the
end. The realism of the scenario is also mixed with moments of
Chiu's trademark nuances - from the liberal use of the
sumptuous landscapes to quirky cinematography, Chiu displays
the style and control that has won him a small band of
admirers. One such moment sees Jin meditating in a serene
temple only to be disturbed when he discovers a fire
extinguisher and other symbols of the outside world.
As
was the case with 'Comeuppance' and 'Love Au Zen', 'Love
Trilogy' is an ensemble piece. While Francis Ng is excellent
as the pig-headed Mark, Oh Ji-Ho is equally impressive as the
romantic Korean Jin. A quick mention must go to Anita Yuen, an
actress whose screen charisma has been sorely missed by this
reviewer. She can still convey so much emotion without
uttering a single word. The cast have a wonderful chemistry
between them that surely adds to the film's success. 'Love
Trilogy' is a fine film that flawlessly juggles three stories
while also hinting at some exquisite symbolism to cement its
point. While its not Derek Chiu's best work, it is at least
evidence that his forays into commercial film-making have not
jaded him. With directors like Chiu - not to mention Carol
Lai, Wilson Yip, Johnny To, Wai Ka Fai, Riley Ip and many
others - still working in Hong Kong, there is renewed cause
for optimism.
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