Rat and Shanghe are brothers, the former straight, the latter a nightclub-loving gay man. This is a close-up look at their misadventures as they trek through the back alleys and shady clubs of Taipei. The cast of characters also includes a gigolo, a mute prostitute and one seriously aggravated mobster. We meet this charming bunch in a narrative in which the past and present intermingle, play off each other and keep us on our toes. The storytelling is far from alienating, though; if anything, it only heightens the intensity.
Director Chang Tso-Chi knows a thing or two about throwing the audience for a loop, so prepare yourself for surprises, including some unexpected moments of quiet and poignancy. The indie film scene in Taiwan is bursting with talent right now, and this is one of the most inventive features to emerge from it. Chang gives us a bittersweet portrait of brotherhood, a wide-angle view of contemporary Taiwan and a whimsical tale of survival in the mean city.
“Fierce and emotionally poignant… [It] feels like a lethal projectile striking at the core of humanity.”—Ho Yi, Taipei Times
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.