R E V I E W

Gimme Gimme

China Star | 2001 | 101 minutes
Directed by Lawrence Lau Kwok Cheong
Written by Tse Loh Sze

With Chui Tien You, Shiu Yu Wah, Yoyo Chan, Yorky Yuen

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

Director Lawrence Lau made last year's acclaimed Spacked Out, one of my favorites from last year, about a small group of early teenage girls and the very serious problems they encounter. He debuted as a director with 1988's Gangs, and also made the well-regarded Queen of Temple Street (1990), Arrest the Restless (1992), and Three Summers (1993).

The film was produced by Johnnie To. It opened in Hong Kong cinemas during the latter part of May 2001.

M O V I E

plot
Teenagers in a rock band and their friends deal with love, romance, and relationships. We see a love triangle develop between Skid (who likes Pat), Pat (who prefers Lobo), and Lobo. Soda has a multitude of girlfriends, including the long-suffering Suki. Another has a long-distance boyfriend with whom she communicates only by cell phone. Another couple are constantly fighting and breaking up. And so forth...

performances
The ensemble cast is entirely unknown to me. None of the performances ring as untrue, a testament both to the youthful performers as well as director Lawrence Lau. The actors include Chui Tien You as Lobo, Shiu Yu Wah as Skid (my guess), Yoyo Chan as Pat, Yorky Yuen as Soda (my guess -- he also wrote and performed four songs for the film), Kenneth Lai as Ken, Cody Lee as Mo, Yoky Lo as Fion, and Ho Wing Suen as Suki.

production
Teenage romances are usually short-lived and quite predictable. And the same is true for this film's adventures in love. None of the featured relationships have unexpected twists; it's easy to guess what will happen next. So enjoyment of the intertwined stories rests on the exploration of the characters themselves. And it is in this aspect of the film that writer Tse Loh Sze and director Lawrence Lau shine.

The small group of friends are not obsessed with sex (as most American filmmakers portray teenagers) nor constantly wisecracking (as most American television programs depict school-age youth). Instead, they vacillate between distilling preternatural pearls of wisdom and acting inconsistently with their stated beliefs. They have a sense that they want to 'do the right thing' toward their friends, but they don't yet have a very firm grasp on what exactly the 'right thing' is to do. They stumble, but they seem always to move forward, and that allows the viewer to root for them. One nitpick here is that parents and adults are nearly entirely absent from their adolescent lives. That may or may not be an accurate assessment of 21st century Hong Kong youth, but it seems like an omission made for dramatic purposes; perhaps to avoid any premature reckoning?

Director Lau mostly remains in observational, docudrama mode (his camera rarely moves within the frame), but occasionally he cannot resist insert cinematic moments (as when Skid is sick on a curb side and has a private audience with Pat). Several other scenes (including one between Soda and Suki in which both pour out their hearts on cell phones while traveling in taxis) serve as emotional set-pieces (taking the place of fiery gun battles in crime films), around which the various relationships ebb and flow.

The beautiful cinematography by Keung Kwok Man does not call attention to itself but wisely eschews a documentary look. The editing (by T. L. Yun, Yau Chi Wai, and Wong Wing Ming) is spot-on. The musical score was composed by Chung Chi Wing.

rating
Category IIB. Occasional profanity.

D V D

look
The letterboxed presentation looks excellent. Black levels are rich and deep, colors are vibrant, and flesh tones appear natural. The print is nearly pristine, save for occasional specks and speckles.

sound
I listened to the DD 2.0 Cantonese audio track, and it sounded very good. The sound field was expansive enough to make it an enjoyable listen. A Mandarin track is also included.

subtitles
The white (with thin black backing) removable English subtitles are very easy to read and well timed. Several songs are not subtitled, which is a disappointment, since it seems that the lyrics may have some bearing on the story. Chinese subtitles are also included.

features
Eight chapters can be selected from a two-page still frame menu. The film's original theatrical trailer is included, as is a Cantonese-language "Making Of" (brief interviews and excerpts) without subtitles that lasts for about two minutes.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Buy. A slice-of-life film focusing on the romantic lives of a group of engaging teenagers plays better than it may sound.

(Reviewed 12/04/01)

THIS DVD IS AVAILABLE AT HKFLIX.COM