R E V I E W :    C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri 

Reviewed 5/24/01 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

Universe / 1993 / 99 minutes
Directed by Derek Yee Tung-Sing
Written by Derek Yee Tung-Sing

One of the things I love about Hong Kong movie people is their versatility. Take Derek Yee Tung-Sing as an example. Yee has a lengthy resume as an actor (beginning in 1977 with Death Duel and including about 40 roles before this film appeared), but also as a writer (The Legend of the Owl in 1981, co-written by actor/writer/director Jamie Luk Kim Ming) and a cinematographer (six films between 1987 and 1990, including three for director David Chiang and the tribute flick Just Heroes). He began to direct his own scripts in the midst of his other work, with his debut feature being The Lunatics in 1986, followed by People's Hero in 1987 (co-written by Lee Baak Ling), and The Bachelor's Swan Song in 1989 (co-written by Wong Ji Yat).

The film was released in Hong Kong cinemas in November 1993 and grossed more than HK $31 million. It also won several Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Anita Yuen.

Subsequently Yee directed and co-wrote (with Law Chi Leung) the very successful Full Throttle in 1995 and the highly acclaimed Viva Erotica in 1996. Following that, he wrote and directed The Truth About Jane and Sam in 1999. He added to his credentials by serving as a producer for five films since 1997, including Double Tap (directed by Law Chi Leung) and A Fighter's Blues.

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

Plot: Kit is a moody and dissatisfied musician whose girlfriend is a successful pop singer. After they argue, he moves out and ends up in the same building as the preternaturally happy Min and her sprawling musical family. They perform Chinese opera on the street and barely get by. As Min tries to draw Kit out and into her family circle, it turns out that her sunny disposition is, in fact, multilayered. The story takes a darker turn.

Performances: Anita Yuen is simply magical as Min. She is able to convey convincingly a three-dimensional human being. Equally persuasive is Lau Ching-Wan. He ranges all over the emotional map, from angry to betrayed to charming to cheerful to sad, et. al. A large supporting cast adds believability to their roles.

Production: The script is rich and varied in the characterizations and the direction is well-paced. Scenes are set up and framed efficiently without drawing attention away from the story. The cinematography (credited to Tam Chi Wai and Peter Ngor) is pleasing to the eye and the original musical score (by Chris Barida and Wu Wai Lap) and the use of traditional and popular songs underscore the emotional intensity.

Rating: Category I. A film the entire family could watch together.

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

Look: Unexceptional is the most fitting description for the letterboxed (approximately 1.85:1) presentation. The color palette has a pleasing variety but it is rendered in less-than-vibrant tones. It's a similar story with the black levels (not quite deep enough) and the flesh tones (which are varied but just a touch off).

Sound: I listened to the Cantonese audio version and it sounded fine. My DVD player identified this track (as well as the Mandarin audio) as DD 2.0. The back cover of the DVD states that it is Mono. I'm not an authority, but the movie is dialogue-driven with essential musical scenes sounding full and pleasant if a bit limited in their dynamic range.

Subtitles: It was very easy to read the removable white (with black backing) English subtitles. The usual suspects (occasional misspellings, grammar mistakes, etc.) are present but are not distracting. Also available are traditional and simplified Chinese subtitles.

Features: Eight chapters can be selected from a video capture menu. A "Star's File" is provided for Lau Ching Wan - but none, surprisingly, for Anita Yuen (the film made her a bona fide star). The only trailer included is for the film I Have a Date With Spring.

Buy, rent, or pass?

Rent. Highly recommended. Personally it's a bit too emotionally draining for me to consider watching the whole thing more than once, but it's not one to be missed or avoided.

 

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