A unique love story – Movie Review: Beyond the Dream

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A love triangle involving a young man and two girls is a very common film topic. But the story can be weird if the man’s two lovers, one existing in real life and the other in imagination, happen to be the same girl. In the film “Beyond the Dream” this is what happens to Ah Lok, a patient of delusional disorder, who craves for and experiences true love. The film, in fact, tells a unique love story, which keeps the audience emotionally engaged throughout the entire time.

Ah Lok is a primary sports teacher. On regular medication, he is a well-liked young man full of vitality. But when the disease gets out of control, strange things can happen; he cannot tell between what is real and what is imagined. And what triggers this may be a disturbing incident such as the one that occurs in the street at the beginning of the film and it is also where and when Ah Lok first encounters the girl.

Making frequent use of big close-up shots, the director wants to impress the audience with the characters’ inner feelings, such as Ah Lok’s helplessness when drifting in and out of half awake hallucinations, Yip Nam’s happiness when she feels Ah Lok’s love and the professor’s disappointment at Yip Nam's
determination to give up her doctorate.

There is also emphasis on the relationship between humans and the environment. The repeated top-view shot of the spiral staircase implies that a patient of mental disorder often finds himself subject to confinement. The same effect is also achieved with the scattered shots of the subway and the cruciform block of public housing estate. In addition, a light rail station appears several times, highlighting Ah Lok’s feeling of loneliness amidst the commuters hurrying past him. Moreover, the blurred shots imply doubt as to whether it is reality or imagination, comparable to Ah Lok's actual state of mind.

Above all, as the director remarks at an interview, the film is telling a love story. It delivers the message that patients of mental disorder are humans just like any of us. They also crave for love and are capable of true love. And, while Ah Lok is participating in the counselling project, we audience can join him as we also need counselling about genuine love, sacrificial love and accepting love.

A Comedian in Real Life - Movie review: Annie Hall

Image from https://devduttblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/23/20-years-of-woody-allens-annie-hall/

Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It is a film with so much to take in that it appeals for undivided attention so much so that even a slight distraction would leave the audience straying off the path.

In the first place, the movie is characterized by a copious use of dialogues. Everyone everywhere seems to be talking. Quickness characterizes the way people talk. This, indicating the quick change of time and place as well as people’s mood, can be confusing at times. The audience have to pay full attention to the dialogues to get the right message. And very often two persons are heard speaking at the same time, their words overlapping. More than once the subtitles show both the words on their minds and the actual words being spoken. Imagine the confusion!.

Split scenes are used a few times. At one shot Alvin and Annie are seen at different settings, displayed side by side, each discussing with his own therapist. It is thus apparent that they are both bothered by the same problem though they refuse to confide it to each other. Similarly, split scenes are used to compare Annie’s family with Alvin’s when discussing a situation common to both. If I am to watch the film for the second time, it would be to listen to the dialogues again for better enjoyment and understanding.

His career as a stand -up comedian is another interesting detail. Why has he been assigned this career? Not much stress is placed on the two cases in which he is sharing a joke on stage. The script he uses is too short to spark laughter though the audience seem to be enjoying it a lot. As I see it, it is in real life that he impresses the audience as a comedian. His humour, rightly deemed a kind of neurotic humour, using his frailties as fodder to make us laugh, is implied in the way he interacts with the people around him. One example is his annoyance at a guy talking incessantly behind him in a waiting queue. This causes bursts of laughter especially when he purposely brings the guy to the presence of the man who was his target of criticism. And Alvin may suddenly turn to speak to the camera or even ask the strangers on the street questions about the nature of love. The situation could very well be likened to his stage performance initiating responses from the audience.

The audience may wonder why Alvin has been seeking the psychiatrist’s advice for fifteen years. One detail associated with his childhood may be part of the reason. He caused trouble in class because of his innocent sexual curiosity. He also irritated his mother with his indulgence in fanciful thoughts about the universe. Now a grown-up, he still finds this behaviour of his well justified. Could this be the reason for his need for psychological advice?

In view of the name of the film, one would expect the main part of the story to evolve through the life of Annie. But as I see it, Alvin, instead, is the focus of the story. He appears in practically every scene. Conversely, Annie is hardly seen without Alvin. In fact, she is framed through Alvin's experiences. Little importance is attached even to her being with Tony Lacey, her record producer. Her part in the film, from my point of view, is merely to show that she is the most outstanding among the women Alvin has got along with as she is the only one to whom he proposes for marriage. Why is the movie not named Alvin instead?

Frankly speaking, to write a good review of the film “Annie Hall”, I would need to view it for the second, or even the third time, to support my analysis with well digested details. Nevertheless, the film is worth watching more than once just for its own sake.

My Appreciation for a Dedicated Team

In view of the expiry of Cinematheque Passion’s operating contract by the end of June, I would like to express my appreciation for the Association of Audio Visual CUT’s contribution as the operator over the past three years.

A film director had once said that in order for Macau’s film industry to develop, people need first to be taught to appreciate “good” movies. In this respect I hold in high regard what CUT Ltd. has been doing as I have personally learned a lot from my three years’ experience of being an audience member of Cinematheque Passion.

On top of everything else I have learned to respect movies as a form of art. Frankly, I used to prioritize TV programs over films as a kind of entertainment in terms of cost and convenience. And I found DVDs a useful source of interesting movies. However, I have not only learned over time to appreciate the joy of watching a film in the cinema but have also come to realize what it takes for a film to be classified as a good one.

This has been due to the exposure to a wide range of movies of intellectual depth and artistic value, most being award winners at international film festivals. Most of the films selected for screening are inaccessible in the main-stream cinemas, hence a treasured privilege for the audience of the Cinematheque.

In addition, CUT Ltd. is intent on providing opportunities for local filmmakers to exploit their skills and potentials by arranging special screening for their films. There are usually questionnaires for us audience to fill in, inviting opinions and suggestions about the movies we have watched, showing the team’s eagerness to satisfy our desire for quality films.

Besides, there are frequent free talks and seminars for audience participation. In a pro-screening talk, for example, we have the chance to interact with the speakers, usually the director himself and a few other filming participants. They help us understand the film in greater depth, share with us some interesting details behind the scene and patiently answer our curious questions.

In addition, there are training workshops for people of different age-groups to learn the basic filming techniques. One example is the yearly short course designed for Junior High students to be trained by professional directors to produce a short film on their own.

There are other workshops, equally informative and exciting, targeted at more mature learners with the aptitude. Personally, I will always be grateful to CUT Ltd. for having organized a Film Critics Workshop for each of the three consecutive years.

I have been greatly inspired by Mr. Fung Ka Ming, the instructor, whose excellent guidance has well equipped me to explore further on film analysis with confidence and to share my film reviews with other movie lovers.

This has convinced me that films, as a form of art, can be further appreciated through the beauty and depth of a film review. My special thanks goes to Rita and Vivianna for launching the “Film Critics Salon”, enabling film critics like myself to post our film reviews on a regular base.

And last but not least, it is at the Cinematheque that I have learned to adopt a respectful attitude as an audience member. Like the rest of the watchers, I remain seated till the end of the credits roll. Each time I see the long list of names, I cannot help marveling at the great number of people engaged in the different jobs involved. Do these people not deserve this simple token of respect for their contribution to film production?

For the past three years, Cinematheque Passion has been a place where movie makers are encouraged to pursue their dreams and where movie lovers have access to an endless source of quality movies. In fact, the team of the Association of Audio Visual CUT will always be remembered for their dedication and enthusiasm.

Have I got an investment plan?

A friend has recently expressed her regret for not having made good investments at a stage of life early enough to ensure a well-provided old age. This has provoked some thinking on my part. Having retired for a few years already, do I consider myself adequately provided for? Have I had a good investment plan?

Honestly speaking, where financial investment is concerned, I am a total failure. I do not remember enjoying affluent living at any stage of my life. In my youthful days, the average income was only high enough to make ends meet and investment was not a widely accepted concept. Instead, saving in the bank every coin earned seemed to be the usual practice. My only attempt at investment, if any, was in the form of contribution towards a provident fund under the guidance of the school where I worked. Understandably, the amount of cash loss due to inflation over time is immeasurable. I have come to realize only in recent years that the lack of versatility can be a cause of failure in wealth management while a well-devised investment plan will probably lead to a worry-free retirement. 

Nevertheless, I believe that investment is not necessarily limited to financial pursuit. In fact, there are other far more worthy things into which we can put our time and effort, and for which rewards can come in different forms. Frankly, I can claim to have had my retirement bountifully blessed because, without my awareness initially, I have invested my time and effort in a few important issues.

For one thing, I am grateful for my good health. This has been due to my healthy habits, which have led to a fulfilling life-style since my young age. I, therefore, recommend investment in our health as a top priority and I often advise young people to adopt regular bedtime and mealtime routines. 

Besides, knowledge and skills are worth investing time in. Wholesome hobbies such as reading, drawing and playing the piano will end up being our good companions in our old age. Long after we have forgotten the textbook knowledge, we still derive great joy from a book we read, a painting we draw or a piece of music we play. This is in fact what keeps my retirement immensely enriched these days.

Moreover, long lasting friendships are a blessing in our old age. Nothing is better than having a few friends who are always there when you need a listener to your old stories. Old friends, too, can understand better your worries about an aching backbone or a rebellious grandchild. And this is all because you yourself had been a loyal listener, too, back in those good old days. 

Indeed, I have not benefited the least from a good financial plan. But I am grateful that my time and effort has been well invested.

An Unusual Romance - Movie Review: The Souvenir

(Picture from https://www.theartsshelf.com/2019/07/24/curzon-presents-the-uk-poster-trailer-for-joanna-hoggs-the-souvenir/)

As suggested by its Chinese name "我們的相愛時光", the film The Souvenir tells a love story, though not the kind common among feature movies.

Initially, the encounter between Julie, the young film student, and Anthony, a man who is years her senior, seems to prepare the audiences for a poetic romance, the hint being a classical portrait of an elegant lady in love, which actually appears twice in the film. And it is interesting how the two share a bed with a few toys symbolizing the border between them, thus implying their pure friendship.

When the man comes back from Paris with a souvenir, the film takes an unexpected turn: the few brief sex scenes that follow somehow imply that they gradually get entangled in a lusty relationship. Over time, the relationship is threatened on the discovery of the man’s drug addiction, causing the woman to fall into an abyss of misery from which there is no escape. The tragic story then drags on with no surprises until it comes to an abrupt ending.

The film could have achieved brevity and persuasiveness with the removal of a few unnecessary scenes. For example, the scene of the nude man she smiles at in her bedroom is repulsive though it somehow serves to disclose her need for sexual satisfaction to overcome her sadness about the loss of her lover. In fact, this is by no means consistent with her natural artistic charm. Then there is the scene at which she finds herself face to face with a strange man when she comes home one day. How did the man come to be in her house and what was he doing there? If this is meant to show Anthony’s bad company because of his drug addition, it does not serve the purpose. In addition, the slight touch on politics and his instructor’s advice does little to enhance the film’s dramatic appeal. 

Conversely, I greatly appreciate the role Julie’s mother plays in the film. In spite of her rare appearances, she makes a great impression on the audiences with her elegant, refined manners and her concealed worry about her daughter’s shattered dreams. The way she puts Julie to bed as if she were still an infant touches our hearts. We feel the sorrow of a loving mother who can do nothing to soothe her daughter’s pain.

On the whole, instead of a romantic film, I would see The Souvenir as a sad story with a warning against falling in love with the wrong man.

Love Conquers Everything - Film review: Day One

Day One, a documentary film directed by Lori Miller, tells how a unique public school in Louisiana takes care of a number of children who have fled from their war- torn countries with their families to start a new life in America.

The film focuses much on the teachers’ selfless dedication to preparing the refugee children for transition to mainstream schools in two years. The school motto, which the principal keeps the kids repeating, is: “All students will be prepared for global academic success”. However, the children are given far more than mere academic guidance. In fact, a lot is done to help them navigate, acclimatize, feel welcome and safe.

To cater to their various needs is an uphill battle as the children are from different cultural backgrounds, each with a different sad story. Behavioral problems occur occasionally because of the children’s ingrained habit of fighting to be the first to be safe. Some children need individual counselling as they are still haunted by past traumas as well as current disturbances from unfriendly neighboring communities.

In addition, there are challenges related to US administration’s refugee resettlement policies. President Trump’s refugee ban, slashing the overall admission numbers, has made it stressful for the students already admitted to the country. There is also argument about spending the money on immigrant children at the cost of the welfare for American children. To this, the teachers’ answer is that all children should have equal access to education.

The consolation is that there are contributions from charity organizations, whose kindness helps to reaffirm the value of refugees and immigrants, turning the cycle back to the world in which children, regardless of their national origin, are shown care and concern. And the teachers’ efforts pay when they see their students ready to pursue their aspirations in mainstream schools finally. The principal sees herself as a missionary answering a call from God to make miracles happen. And upon her retirement, she says with joyful certainty that she has seen encouraging changes since her first day.

The film delivers the positive message that love can conquer everything. It well deserves the honour of being the winner of the Best Documentary Award at Dublin International Film Festival 2019.

Currently, there are over 22.5 million refugees worldwide, over half of whom are under the age of 18. Let us be inspired by this movie to do what we can to help these children to have a better future.

Less is More!

It was Robert Browning who introduced the expression 'less is more' in a poem in which the painter Andrea del Sarto addressed his beautiful but unfaithful young wife. (http://www.abstractconcreteworks.com/essays/lessismore/ls_s_mor.html )The concept 'less is more' can actually be a way of life. It is living in a way in praise of simplicity.

In one of my previous posts, I discussed people's craving for a life of affluence. Can more and more material comforts and luxuries of life lead to greater happiness? As I see it, having too much would only result in huge unnecessary wastage. On the other hand, it would be interesting to consider how we could do more with less.

If we have less time for our work, we will take better care to avoid wasting time on unnecessary discussions, planning and amendments. We will focus our attention on the core tasks disregarding other trifling matters, thus achieving higher speed and better quality. As evident from previous experiences, no matter how much time is allowed for a project, it is usually completed only at the eleventh hour. Less time is definitely a competitive advantage in this case.

If we have less money to spend, we will economize by refraining from unnecessary purchases. Imagine a wardrobe bursting with clothes that may have gone out of fashion before you have the chance to wear them. Small kids with a lot of lucky money may also acquire wasteful attitudes and habits. How much more treasurable their toys would be to them if they are usually kept waiting for a long time for a new addition?

When traveling, it is advisable to avoid carrying more than what is needed for the trip. In fact, the less luggage, the better, even without the consideration of baggage allowance for a flight. We have seen travelers weighed down with excessive luggage. How much more enjoyable the tour would be to them if there were no worry about theft or damage?

In brief, a life of simplicity is a way of living that is outwardly simple but inwardly rich. The path to simple living is one that we should pursue. If we can take more responsibility for what we consume and how we live our lives, the world would be a better place to live in. So, let us try to transform our life by doing more with less.