|
THE
LUNATICS
AKA:
The Story Of Maniacs
Year:
1986 Reviewer: Andrew
Saroch
Stanley
Fong stars as a social worker for the mentally ill who takes
reporter Deannie Yip on his monthly round of the streets.
Throughout their episodic journey, Fong introduces his
companion to all of the patients who choose to live on the
streets and who grind out some kind of existence in the harsh
Hong Kong surroundings. His patients range from a seemingly
timid old lady who collects drinks cans, a dishevelled father
(Chow Yun Fat) who has no hope of properly raising his two
children and a disturbed man (Tony Leung) who frequents the
local fish market. Fong's one success is a divorced father
(Paul Chun Pui) who now lives with his mother after a severe
breakdown. However, circumstances soon change and eventually
spiral towards a tragic conclusion.
Quite
simply one of the most important films to come out of Hong
Kong and certainly one of the most harrowing. Stanley Fong
reaches his career apex as the disillusioned social worker as
does the superb Paul Chun Pui. This film has no happy endings
or easy ways out; it grips on to its audience and just refuses
to let go. 'The Lunatics' features a number of normally
glamorous stars who go completely against type to portray a
variety of tragic characters: just look at Chow Yun Fat's
character for proof. The film also contains some of the most
powerful scenes on celluloid: Paul Chun Pui's eventual
breakdown really sticks in the memory long after the film has
finished. Essential viewing for every film buff, 'The
Lunatics' is a superb mixture of social conscience and expert
film-making.
|
