The concept of films about films is one of the latest trends in cinema, despite the fact that it is somewhat difficult to implement, and that the general audience has not exactly gotten used to it. Lau Chang Kean tries his hand in the concept however, through a short that also looks like an exercise in various cinematic techniques.
“They Dont Fuxk with My Story” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Starting as a kind of home video before it transforms into a music video of sorts, the story is soon revealed to be about two young people (whose presence is only indicated through their great voices of narration) writing a script for a movie. The film follows the procedure of script-writing, starting with the appearance of the protagonist (whose clothes are changed through a playful montage) and his character, which is soon revealed to be of a very lonely young man who also suffers from panic attacks. The last aspect is depicted in a scene that is quite intense, through the red hues that dominate the image and the fitting music.
As the discussion of the two progresses, they soon realize that they also need additional elements to make the movie more interesting. Thus a girl of similar age is presented, who also suffers from loneliness underneath her seemingly joyful facade. Furthermore, some background regarding the reasons behind the mental state of the protagonist also emerges as a necessity, with the script taking a crime thriller turn after that.
The way Lau Chang Kean transforms the procedure of script writing into a film is quite impressive, with the flow of the movie mirroring the method excellently, even highlighting the result of the whole procedure. Apart from that, Lau also shows great command of the medium, by implementing a rather entertaining combination of image and music, through a number of “tricks” usually appearing in Hollywood movies. The sudden cuts to completely different scenes with the subsequent stopping of the music, the long shots that highlight the impressive setting the story takes place in, the zoom-ins, the slow motion, the text on black-screens in silent-movie fashion, and a number of others are all well-implemented, as much as the twist in the story.
Some of the close-ups are a bit too intense, but on the other hand, the presentation of the various settings definitely compensates, while the images of the sky from below, through the tree branches are simply impressive, and highlight the work done in the cinematography by both the director and Tan Ying Zhuang. The editing, also by the director, is also quite good, connecting all the different techniques in a way that results in an actual narrative.
The acting, even if without lines, is also very fitting, although the fact that both protagonists (Lau again and Tan Karyin) wear braces is a bit funny to witness.
“They Dont Fuxk with My Story” is as much a cinematic exercise as a short film, but the result is so impressive, that it simply does not matter.
