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Reviewed 1/7/01 | Background | Movie Review | DVD Review | Recommendation

Background 

Mei Ah / 2000 / 90 minutes
Directed by Wilson Yip
Written by Matt Chow and Wilson Yip

From 1995 to 1997, Wilson Yip directed five films, evidently without causing much of a sensation. He teamed up with producer Joe Ma Wai Ho and co-writer Matt Chow in 1998 to make Bio Zombie (described as a vampire comedy); their follow-up Bullets Over Summer was released in 1999.

The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong early in the year 2000.

Movie: plot, performances, production, rating

The world is full of wounded people. Sandra Ng is one - her husband has left her after a recent health crisis, causing her to question her own self-worth as she endeavors to care for her aging and senile grandfather. Francis Ng Chun-Yu is another, a petty criminal who can't bring himself to cross the line into heartless brutality. Each owes allegiance to Simon Yam Tat-Wah, a crime boss who is also a caring family man. Through a plot contrivance they end up caring for Yam's infant son. Brought together under such circumstances, they find themselves reluctantly being drawn to each other. But a debt must be paid . . .

By turns wistful, whimsical, thoughtful, and grim, the film is measured and graceful. The performances thankfully do not descend into hysterical theatrics, nor do the scenes with the infant turn nauseatingly cute. Director Wilson Yip deserves credit for the unhurried pace that allows the drama to breathe and the audience to collect its thoughts as the plot presses forward to a (perhaps) inevitable and emotionally affecting conclusion.

The film is rated Category IIB. Several scenes are awash in blood and beatings.

DVD: look, sound, subtitles, and features

The DVD features a good letterboxed (1.85 to 1 ratio) presentation. The fleshtones are natural, the black levels are sufficiently deep, and the colors look accurate.

Both Dolby 2.0 and 5.1 Cantonese and Mandarin audio tracks are provided. I listened to the Cantonese 5.1 track and it sounded fine, with adequate channel separation and use of surround channels.

Traditional and simplified Chinese removable subtitles are provided in addition to English; the English titles are large and white, but with no black backing they sometimes disappear into the background.

The disk is divided into 9 chapters with no time coding. The "data bank" contains a cast and crew listing and the synopsis from the back of the disk. The film's theatrical trailer is included, and the "best buy" is the trailer for Peace Hotel.

Buy, rent, or pass?

Buy. A layered drama that will likely reveal deeper recesses of feeling and meaning upon repeated viewing.

 

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