Neo-noir is easily one of the more fascinating genres to have evolved over the past several decades. From sci-fi epics to seedy downtown tales, the sub-genre has continued to flourish, particularly, at least in recent years, in China. Unique stories of urban life across China have come in waves to the silver screen, with one of the latest efforts being that of “The Old Town Girls” from first time director Yu Shen. A sombre effort, the film tells a gripping coming-of-age tale tinged with regret.
“The Old Town Girls” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival
Shui Qing (Teresa Li) is a high-schooler living with her despondent father and disinterested stepmother. An introverted dance student, Shui's needs begin to change when her mother, Qu Ting (Wan Qian), rolls back into town, having left her daughter as a baby. Things seem to go well for the two at first, as they ease into each other's lives with a friendly relationship. However, Shui soon learns that her estranged mother's wild lifestyle has landed her in deep with some dangerous loan sharks.
Despite its thriller-like opening sequence, “The Old Town Girls” is more of a family drama at heart, specifically one focused on mother and daughter. Shui is very much alone in her world. Her few friends are either imposing or impartial, and there's no real place for her at home. How the shy girl has managed to carry herself up until this point, it's hard to say.
The arrival of the carefree Qu changes everything. Despite assuring her biological mother that she's not looking to intrude in her life, Shui clearly longs for some guidance and affection from this long-lost figure. It's devastating to see the lengths the young girl will go to in order to get any love from a decidedly selfish woman. No matter the darker developments later in the film, the relationship that blossoms between Shui and Qu is the true centre of attention, as the two grow to understand each other if nothing more.
However, this touching familial narrative does run alongside a crime-ridden tale that's filled with seedy characters. Qu has been no saint in her years away, and this comes back to bite her in the form of ruthless loan sharks. There are a couple of notable instances of understated violence in which director Shen tells us far more through what isn't shown. The eventual plan hatched up by Qu to get out of debt is as dastardly as it is heart-breaking, as you grow to understand the desperate lengths she's pushed towards.
Unfortunately, a lot of potential tension is ripped away from the plot due to the fact that we have a definite idea of how things will end up. A revealing opening sequence, while admittedly gripping, strips away much of the mystery later in the narrative, as you can clearly see how things will resolve themselves. However, “The Old Town Girls” is more about the journey than the destination, with the emotional detours more than making up for the conspicuous plot.
Rather than bathing this stylish neo-noir in the neon-lit streets of Shanghai or Beijing, Shen instead chooses to give us a tour of one of China's older industrial towns. There's something stark and murky about the way the director portrays the country's rust belt, with the pitiful characters looking as downtrodden as some of the neglected buildings around them. This world feels more grounded in reality than that of the typically outlandish neo-noir effort, which makes the stakes even higher.
Our mother and daughter are brought to life wonderfully by Wan Qian and Teresa Li, respectively. Li's quiet confidence helps to sell Shui as a bold and decisive protagonist despite her reserved manner. Wan, by contrast, is eye-catching and cold as Qu. The distant mother acts no differently than the playful teens she spends much of her time with, though fear rises to the surface once the reality of her situation is made clear. Wan captures the emotional journey of Qu brilliantly, in what is an extremely versatile performance.
“The Old Town Girls” proves to be a mightily impressive debut as Yu Shen produces a touching story of abandonment and longing. This bleak overview of life in industrial China offers a stark and sympathetic look into the lives of others. With some excellent performances and an absorbing narrative, it's an accomplished first effort from a promising filmmaker.
