Movie ramblings

Election (2005)

I’ve read that Johnny To is seen as the next John Woo. People say that To continued Woo’s work when Woo left for Hollywood. Needless to say, I had high expectations for this movie. Maybe that’s why I’m rather dissapointed in this movie. As this was my first Johnny To movie. I would say Johnny To is John Woo 0.5. Now this dissapointment mostly comes from the fact that I thought that I would see a action movie. Maybe see a Triad version of ‘The Killer’ or ‘Hard Boiled‘.

Every two years, one of the most important triad of Hong-Kong has to elect his boss, through a democratic way, where the older decides who can run and win the election. The movie deals with one of this election, which soon becomes a death fight between the two main candidates. The calm and cold-hearted Lok (magistraly interpreted by Simon Yam) and the crazy and dangerous Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai). Everything that could help to win the election is now permitted. From corruption to torture, and nothing will be spared.

Don't expect a full blown Triad action movie

So the film is quite enjoyable, for it’s always nice to see a classical and well done HK triad movie. It really looks like a mid-nighties HK polar, from its atmosphere (and particularly the photography and the direction, with a camera always moving) to its actors. The main influences are still Melville and Coppola, with maybe a new touch of Kitano here (for the character of Big D.) 1997 finally didn’t affect too much the way Hong-Kong makes movies, and although we knew it for some time now, it’s always a pleasure to have a confirmation.

But the problem is that Election really lacks of originality, where Tsui Hark brought some crazy experimental elements and “Infernal Affairs” a more realist tone, Election didn’t really bring anything new. And if the movie is realist and even didactic. It also lacks of action and tension. Of course, there is one big fight scene it is quite short and rather confused. And there almost no dramatic tension in it: a long scene shows a sort of relay to catch a scepter, which will decided the winner of the election, and as no real suspense in it.

Expect a more serious and inside look

Election is severely interesting on the basis of it being a pure triad film. Obviously my knowledge of the organisation is severely limited, but from what I can ascertain this is as “realistic” as you will get, next to standing in the room itself, as the rituals and ceremonies have all been meticulously planned, structured and filmed. In this sense, Election manages to bring out the very best in Eastern cinema, the rich culture (despite the notorious background of the Triad) steeped in tradition holding important virtues and values such as honour, which have all too often have been left behind in the Middle Ages. Election provides what can only be described as a rare insight, and chances are you will not find another film which will be as true and as accurate as this. Other plus points include the strength of the cinematography, typically shot in clean contrast with vivid colours and engaging compositions, while the acting is convincing with some slick performances from Tony Leung and Simon Yam.

If you’re familiar with To’s style, then you should know what to expect. The pacing is relatively slow and deliberate. The cinematography is great, slick and dark in equal measures, utilizing dark hues (brown, dark green and orange) while the smooth tracking shots add a vibrant quality to it. In the end, Election occupies a peculiar place. It’s not exactly a character study and it’s not an action-oriented gangster film. It explores a situation (the election and its aftermath), but does so in style, and is both realistic and romanticized. I see Election as the ‘oriental Godfather’.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★

Electric Shadows (2004)

Every once in a while you find a movie that is such a little treasure that you want to plug to every film lover you know. The Chinese coming-of-age drama Electric Shadows is just that. I will even go as far as saying that this movie is in my top 5 movies from Mainland China. I’ve seen people comparing this movie to the Italian 1988 flick Cinema Paradiso. Now I’ve never seen that movie but seeing all those praises I would say it’s a great compliment to be compared to Cinema Paradiso.

Electric Shadows tells a story about a girl named Ling Ling and her friend Mao Dabing against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution in China. The film starts with Dabing (Xia Yu), a teenager who loves movies, accidentally falling into a brick wall with his bicycle. The walls collapses, a girl picks up a brick and smashes Dabing on the head. Then the girl, who seems unable to speak, asks Dabing to feed her fish while she has to stay with the police. He agrees and in the girl’s apartment he finds her diary, learning that she is indeed his old friend Ling Ling (Qi Zhongyang).

Love for cinema brings them all together

While he is reading her story we see the images, starting with Ling Ling’s mother, how she always wanted to be a famous actress or singer, how Ling Ling was born as an unwanted child, how her mother wanted to end her own life but due circumstances changes her mind. Ling Ling’s mother becomes a caring mother who wants nothing but the best for her daughter. Dabing enters the story, at first a bully for Ling Ling but after a while they become best friends. In the meanwhile Ling Ling’s mother spends a lot of time with Uncle Pan, the town’s movie operator. This is of course where the kids find their love for the movies, and Ling Ling’s mother finds the love for a new man.

This is the main portion of the story. We see two kids growing up during China’s cultural revolution. Electric Shadows seems to capture the social and cultural climate the right way. The two kids having a real eventfull life while using their love for cinema to eventually move closer to eachother. On the surface this movie could be seen as a ‘Chinese melodrama’. From the missing father to the lives these characters lead: where they live and work, what they have to eat and how they get around .It’s much more richer in content. Director Xiao Jiang tries to show how hard it was for a single woman living her life in a rural town. We see how mother and child persevere, with dignity, through a hostile community.

The child actors steal the show

Thanks to a style that is warm, honest, rich and gentle, a story full of quite awful happenings is told in such a way that whatever happens, including some pretty heavy coincidence, we gratefully accept because all of it works beautifully toward her goal of celebrating film, family and friendship. You can see that this movie was made by and for people who love cinema. All cinema lovers, go watch this.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★