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SAI
KUNG STORY (2003)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
Sai
Kung is the setting for three separate stories focusing on
love, examining the tentative first moments in a potential
relationship. Director Lo Wai-Tak keeps each story completely
secluded from the others, choosing to let the themes and the
setting bind the episodes together, a technique that is both
commendable and problematic.
Wing
(Mung) is bored in the Sai Kung fishing community she has
grown up in and feels constantly hemmed in by the insularity
of the tightly-knit area. Into her secluded life comes fashion
designer Lok (Ng) who has returned to his Sai Kung birthplace
after years chasing his career in the U.S.A. Wing initially
feels animosity towards the cultured visitor, but her dream of
being a model look to be realised when Lok offers her a chance
to be photographed in his latest designs. When Lok announces
that he has to return to the West, Wing discovers that her
confused feelings are deeper than she ever thought.
Lazy
postman Man (Tang) ambles through his daily round with little
interest in his work. This changes when he starts to deliver
love letters to Gee (Lee) from her boyfriend and sees the
effect that his job has on others. As he gets to know Gee
better, he finds his feelings towards her deepening and his
interest in her well-being increasing. Man then intercepts a
letter from Gee's boyfriend that talks of his love for another
woman and his impending marriage to her. Keen to protect Gee
and desperate to keep in touch with her, Man begins to forge
letters in the name of her boyfriend and writes the things
that Gee wants to hear. Then, one unfortunate phone call to
Gee reveals the truth behind the letters and Man's undying
love.
Recently
widowed June (Wong) works in a Sai Kung restaurant with her
over-protective in-laws. Despite putting on a brave face for
the customers, June is still distraught over her loss and
finds it difficult to look to the future. When Ming, the best
friend of June's deceased husband, returns to Hong Kong, he is
eager to re-establish his friendship with the widow. Ming and
June enjoy each other's company, but the latter is still
completely unaware of the former's unrequited love for her. As
the truth begins to dawn on June, she finds it very difficult
to balance her feelings for her late husband and Ming.
'Sai
Kung Story' is faced with the same problems that any film
utilising an episodic narrative structure has to overcome.
While the advantage of a film being constructed in distinct
sections means that a fresh and new theme can be injected with
every story, the writing has to be especially tight. The half
hour or so allotted to each part of the film needs to have
enough character development and a strong enough denouement to
make the audience care. For the majority of the running time,
'Sai Kung Story' succeeds in blending together genre
conventions while still proving to be engaging enough for us
to care.
Clearly
filmed on DV, the low budget of 'Sai Kung Story' means that
the actors need to give performances that will distract
viewers from obvious deficiencies. The six main members of the
cast do indeed acquit themselves well in their varied roles
with the underrated Ruby Wong giving a particularly nuanced
performance. It is also good to see Lawrence Ng playing a
down-to-earth character as opposed to the less salubrious
roles he was saddled with throughout the 90s. Each of the
pairings seem to offer enough dramatic variety to prevent the
film ever becoming stale or monotonous.
This
is an unassuming, yet entertaining film that may not set the
world alight, but develops its touching theme quite
effectively. The nature of the narrative means that emotional
involvement is not always fully achieved and there are moments
that are rushed in attempt to contain everything in the 90
minute running time. The intrusive piano score is also
something of an occupational hazard when viewing Hong Kong
romantic dramas and 'Sai Kung Story' is drenched in such
ballads. However, this is a production about love that is
still compelling.
Rating:
 
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