Malaysia-born, Miami-rised, Los Angeles-based Jing Ai Ng writes and directs “Fleck”, her thesis work for the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, that she attended as the first director of Malaysian origin. Her coming of age feminine drama recently earned Jing an award for the 2019 Director's Guild of America (DGA) Student Grand Prize in the Asian-American category.
“Fleck” is screening at NewFilmmakers Los Angeles Film Festival
The film focuses on reserved Asian American student Jamie (Stacy Chu) attending an exclusive boarding school in the US. It's the age of discoveries and Jamie is exploring her desires, her sense of friendship, her vulnerability and boundaries. But it is also the age of camaraderie, secret diaries, gentle mocking, shared rooms and bathrooms, and the thrill of breaking the rules.
Jamie's infatuation for a charming male student is hardly a secret and, in her own quiet way, she is over the moon when she and her roommate Maddle (Alyssa Latson) are invited to a secret party at the campus, organised by that group of older and cooler students. But the accomplished feeling of having made it to the popular entourage's party is quickly tainted when Jamie realises her love interest is already in the good company of beautiful blond Brianna (Sami Sandzimier). Moreover, Jamie and Maddle realise there is a high prize to pay in order to belong to a certain circle and they have to make a choice, but not before having rescued a fellow student from the muddle.
“Fleck” 's certain lack of originality in the plot is completely balanced and overturned by the accomplished storytelling and the righteousness of the film's position. Ironically, what really makes this work stand out is its nuanced and subtle tone of voice. All the tropes and topos – sisterhood, consensus, belonging, individuality – are all crystal clear, but never spoonfed to the audience, never too shouted. “Fleck” is a powerful whisper, a breeze and – as its title hints – a small patch of light.
Jing Ai Ng's film is visually stunning, pure joy to watch. The cinematography, in the hands of Jan Rischbieth Cordoba, works wonders with all the cool shades of green and blue. Every shot is beautifully framed withing unusual perspectives, dynamically thought in a way that Jamie rhythmically merges and emerges against the college backdrop and yet this formal rigor and elegance manages to retain all the freshness of a first work. Central to the formal quality of “Fleck” is its leading lady Stacy Chu (also a young film-maker) whose performance is as layered and refreshing as the movie itself. Her Jamie is very relatable and her acting restrained but rich in all the subtleties, portraying social awkwardness, friendship and an in-the-making inner strength.
A proficient debut from a talented film-maker, “Fleck” is a gentle tale of girls exploring new emotions and reaching out for each other. A very good start of a career Jing Ai Ng already shows to be cut out for.
