Hong Kong Reviews Reviews

Film Review: Fatal Love (1988) by Leong Po-chih

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It's a performance that gives "Fatal Love" a beating heart at its core

“Amour fou” is a frequent plot driver that has been used since the beginning of cinema. Literally translating as “mad love”, obsession and doomed romance are staples of such tales. “” fits nicely into this category with two star-crossed lovers trying time to escape inevitable tragedy.

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Wing () has a spooky encounter with Hung () as he drives to meet friends at a club. Uncertain as to whether he had encountered a ghost, he becomes obsessed with finding her. Hung is in fact the girlfriend of Sam (Melvin Wong) a powerful man with criminal connections, and so she tries to push Wing away. As they become closer Wing learns more about Hung's past and how she came to be with Sam. As she tries to break free, she discovers Sam won't loosen his hold on her and escape may be impossible.

The opening scenes play nicely with one of Leslie Cheung's more famous roles in a “A Chinese Ghost Story”. Listening to ghost stories on the radio as he drives, a sudden appearance of a shawl sends him careering off the road. The traditional blue lighting follows him as he walks into the woods, where he encounters Cherie Chung's character for the first time. Indeed the first third plays on whether she is real or a figment of his imagination. Here is our first element of amour fou. A man obsessed with an image or apparition. His desire to find this mystery women alienates his friends and the clearly designated “good girl” Ann who stands no chance with a “dream woman”.

What this film does well is expand on the character of Hung and proceed to humanize her from the initial objectivity imposed on her by both Sam and Wing. She is less a femme fatale and more a victim of circumstances. Whilst Wing is full of the idealised view of love, hers is a more grounded vision. There is a rather obvious visual metaphor with the dove where Hung references its return because it's used to being in a cage. The quieter and more revealing line is when she says “All good things must end” after a romantic moment. Here is a woman who doesn't believe in happiness and so pushes Wing away to protect both him and her from getting hurt. The gradually revealed life makes her the most rounded character in the film and is beautifully played by Cherie Chung. It's a performance that gives “Fatal Love” a beating heart at its core and turns what might be a caricature into something more genuine.

Leslie Cheung was a great performer and they make for a good screen couple. The sillier elements to his character fade as the story develops and the tone darkens in the final third. As the third wheel of the triangle, Melvin Wong is all suave menace as Sam. There are a couple of nice turns from Ann Bridgewater and Phillip Kwok too, which gives a bit more depth to the overall narrative as the supporting characters are given something to do. I especially like the final scene with Phillip Kwok who's own romance is equally ill fated.

If it has a weakness, then it's that it is probably about 10-15 minutes too short. The final tonal shift is a bit abrupt and a gradual ease into the darkness of the climax would have elevated it more. As it stands, the finale is effective, it just feels it is missing that little bit of polish.

helms this production well. There is a nice romanticized feel for the most part and the story lures you in as it moves from the more comical courtship through to the tragic finale. Whilst not a classic, it remains a very good film. With so many movies currently getting a fresh release on blu ray in Hong Kong at the moment it's an opportunity to discover one's that might otherwise pass you by. Definitely one to take a chance with.

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