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The initial
thing that drew me into Julian Lee's The Accident (which
is based on his own novel by the same name) was actually reading
up on actor Ben Ng's filmography. Ben is of course more known
for his villainous roles in the Category III efforts Red
To Kill and The Eternal Evil Of Asia, two projects
that featured overacting but memorable overacting I must stress.
Then this 1999 independent drama (also rated Cat III), executive
produced by Stanley Kwan, came up and people's positive reactions
towards Ng's performance was due to memorable acting.
See the difference?
After
a railroad accident, a group of lonely individuals are stranded
in or waiting for loved ones in nighttime Hong Kong. Tourist
guide Phillip (Andrew Lin) loses his mobile phone and can't
reach his girlfriend Cindy (Gigi Lai), who is visiting during
a hiatus in her studies in London. Phillip goes for a meal
at a restaurant where adult film actress Ding Li (Almen Wong)
is shooting her latest movie, under prison like conditions.
Cindy has nowhere to go and when her ex-boyfriend can't provide
roof over her head for the night, her visit to a nightclub
leads to her meeting an older airline captain (Patrick Tse).
Finally there's the story of a gay taxi driver (Ben Ng) who
hooks up with a Mainland teenage hustler (Wong Hei) for the
night.
"I wasn't hoping for a lifetime, just
a moment of happiness"
The Accident tale of chance meetings between lonely
people isn't likely to cause a stir with most viewers as it
depends on how much you can immerse yourself in its theme
to get genuine emotions from it. I have to confess that I
did but there's also the part of me that feels Lee's movie
is slightly underwhelming as a whole. Certainly his loneliness
theme is almost superbly embodied by Almen Wong's line quoted
above and that is its biggest success, the conveying of this
very downbeat message.
Lee, who debuted with The Accident and did not surface
again until the Daniel Wu produced Night Corridor in
2003, threatens to be highly artistic with the film during
its initial stages but thankfully dumps any muddled, in meaning,
visuals for a straight storytelling with the biggest stylistic
choice being the different color schemes that the urban Hong
Kong night can provide you with. The loneliness theme isn't
exactly jammed down the viewers throat either as the film
plays out very low-key and natural, which means it can be
even more underwhelming for viewers out there. In any case,
once you get past the fact that these similar meetings all
occur during the same night because of the same accident (which
is a non-visual reference throughout the film), Lee gives
us a very solid look at the different aspects to different
individuals loneliness.
The only established couple (Andrew Lin & Gigi Lai) are
in a temporary situation because they can't reach each other
and through that, other connections are made, for the night
only, which is the common denominator in all these portrayals.
Lee refuses to give us any kind of movie-ish solutions but
instead a real examination, something I appreciate. As much
as they'd like, it's almost impossible for the characters
to savor moments they're experiencing and if only temporary,
that's what these people will accept, which is of course a
highly downbeat situation to be in. Striving for something
better is a choice that is available to Cindy and Phillip
but their, perhaps wrongful instinct, is to go to the established
way, not the risky one that could lead to even more rays of
happiness. It's all very competently handled by Lee who communicates
with the audience without resorting to obvious exposition.
It should be radiated from the characters and while there's
uneven acting talent on board, it has to be said that the
performers do justice to the final nailed message.
On the uneven acting side we find Gigi Lai and Andrew Lin.
Lai certainly embodies, in an acceptable way, the desperation
and slight childish nature that director Lee wants but she
does come off as a bit flat overall. Lin, not very much tested
in Hong Kong cinema for his acting abilities does ok for himself
in a performance that requires more stillness and reacting
and he has a sexy, playful chemistry with Almen Wong. Lee
doesn't challenge Wong much beyond her actual abilities and
that's what I consider that you have to do. If you know your
actor's abilities, you can get the best out of them in a modest
way for something that I keep coming back to, a serviceable
performance.
Faring the absolute best and really the most interesting
story of the three is between Ben Ng and Wong Hei's characters.
It's again playing to a section of the theme of loneliness
that is about temporary connections, even if the characters
do not wish it to be so. Ng's character is in debt but a very
caring, sensitive and mild-mannered gay man and his quick
hookup a Manland teenage conman is an intense one in terms
of the various sex acts between them, but the relationship
speaks suitable volumes about their respective desires that
may not be able to flourish, at least not between the two
of them. Obviously this is a more sophisticated portrayal
of gay men that Hong Kong films usually gives us and actor
Ng and Wong deserves kudos for all the way displaying emotions
of huge desire and also doing good in performing the quiet
nature to their night together. The Accident is therefore
noteworthy and special for showcasing a side to Ng that many
probably didn't think was there. It's a shame he's rarely
been given more chances to explore this calmer side but you
have to cherish what's there. Christine Ng appears briefly
as a woman acquaintance of Ng's character, perhaps his only
friend but he can't answer back to her emotions towards him.
Have to mention one of the film's strangest inclusions and
a definite flaw, the twin girls, wannabe actresses that hang
around the set of Ding Li's film. Broad and generally odd
and the comment about them really felt outside of this film.
Julian Lee's The Accident is not without its flaws
mainly in terms of the coincidence that all night meetings
are really of the same nature. That's easy to let go off though
as Lee presents an honest and, if you're in the right mood,
heartfelt portrayal of urban loneliness. Acting on board is
acceptable for the most part, with the true standout, as I'd
initially hoped, being, otherwise Cat III madman, Ben Ng.
There were underrated talents in there despite the extreme
nature to many of those films and it's special to see movies
like The Accident because of it.
The DVD:
An older disc at Mei Ah that presents the
film in a 1.70:1 aspect ratio approximately. Colours are ok
and print is very clean although the brightness ruins any
chance of deeper blacks. Not in anyway NOT watchable however.
The Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 track sounds
rough and dialogue sometimes sounds more distorted than I'd
like. No real channel separation exists but it's a decent
soundtrack nonetheless. A Mandarin 2.0 dub is also included.
The English subtitles feature few errors and
seems to convey dialogue and such to a good degree. Traditional
and simplified Chinese subtitles are also included. Extras
includes trailers for Water Margin - Heroes Sex Stories
and The Conman 1999. The Mei Ah databank also offers
the usual, useless plot synopsis and cast & crew listing.
reviewed by Kenneth
Brorsson
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