“Fashion” explores the life of the host at the ‘Midnight Express Discotheque', a venue that highlights drag performances and caters to an LGBTQ+ community. However, the club is not all about glitz and glamour as the host struggles with a feeling of loneliness and his star performer can withdraw into herself and her own vices.
“Fashion” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Taking a lo-fi approach to filmmaking, director Loong Wah's “Fashion” is as close to a zero budget project you are bound to come across. Consequently, the equipment used feels aged with visuals saturated in color that blurs form, dialogue drowned out in background noise, and a score that sounds like two default setting on a keyboard overlapping. As a result, “Fashion” is far from being a ‘good' film in the traditional sense, but carries an undeniable charm in its stripped back and intimate approach.
Much like the director's previous work, “Mah Lin Hotel” the cinematography focuses in equal parts between performances and moments of non-action. This results in long shots of subjects standing still, often smoking, as they stare absent mindedly at the camera. Consequently, creating an odd disconnect from the experience as a ‘film' and more a portrait of the daily lives of his subjects. The time with each actor feels almost perverse in extreme close-ups of carrying out such mundane activities, almost judgmental towards the viewer. At the same time, Wah also seems to celebrate the subjects in his film by letting them exist as is.
With minimal dialogue, there is not really anything to comment on in regards to the actors. However, Loong Wah does inject some personality into the production with his own musical score, which, while awkward, makes the perfect soundtrack for the dingy looking ‘Midnight Express Discotheque'. Ultimately, the film appears to be looking to establish a vibe more than a narrative, and to that degree, succeeds under the multiple roles of production Wah takes on himself.
“Fashion” is best described as directionless z-grade cinema with some punk and counter-culture undertones. Undeniably, it will not be an experience most will seek out or be able to enjoy. Personally, after having watched two projects from Loong Wah I have come to love the imagery, in spite of the awkward framing and low quality, as well as the awkward yet realistic characters he creates. If you are a fan of micro-budget film that does not follow convention, “Fashion” is certainly worth seeking out.
