As far as plots go, Chang Yao-sheng's directorial debut “A Leg” veers towards the nonsensical side of things. It may be a love story at its most dumbed-down, but it serves as so much more throughout the course of its near two-hour runtime. It might not quite reach the same level of quality as the ambitious narrative should, but it is a more than serviceable dark comedy well worth some attention.
“A Leg” is screening at the New York Asian Film Festival
Central to proceedings is Qian Yu-ying (Gwei Lun-mi). A distressed widow, she clambers to get her late husband's amputated leg back over a frantic 82 hours which sees her tracking down trucks, rummaging through body parts and making enemies with an entire hospital. Qian is desperate to cremate her partner in his entirety, thus resulting in a hyperbolic, bizarre race to reunite the deceased with a part of their body.
Generally, “A Leg” is an amusing, breezily paced piece of cinema. It never takes itself overly seriously, even amidst plot-points of infidelity, cruel debt and suffering, and manages to send both a heartfelt and humorous message about the toll grief can take on a person. Chang's writing is reasonably astute, levelling out the eccentric moments of wooden feet replacements and wiry arguments with poignant flashbacks about a love which came about through ballroom dancing, and withstood its fair share of trauma. It is undeniably smartly executed, and benefits from being entertaining while also rather touching.
Furthermore, the character of Qian Yu-ying is one seamlessly developed throughout the movie. The audience feels the weight of the journey she goes on to find her husband's leg, feeling sympathy for her without it delving into half-hearted pity. Qian may come across as irrational at times, but as a grieving person we are given enough to understand the intentions of the protagonist, consequently allowing the viewer to root for her in this unorthodox quest for a leg.
Acting wise, Gwei Lun-mi is, as expected, near flawless as Qian Yu-ying. The popular actor plays the role as a desperate widow with a marked proficiency, bringing both desperation and nuanced hardship to her depiction. Yang You-ning is also skilful in his performance as Zheng Zi-han, a sympathetic husband who may inflict suffering on others, but still brings some semblance of pity from the audience with his painfully downcast revelations and misplaced redemptions. Together, the two play off each other well, and keep the film's standard high.
Technically, not much can be said, although Chung Mong-hong's subtle cinematography helps amplify the subject matter to the audience. Additionally, the aesthetically pleasing locations makes for easy watching, subsequently increasing one's viewing pleasure.
All in all, “A Leg” is a strong directorial debut from Chang Yao-sheng. It has plenty of imperfections, but thanks to a strong cast and uniquely interesting story, the near two-hour flick remains entertaining and engaging throughout.
