• Director: Johnnie To

• Starring: Chow Yun-fat, Sylvia Chang, Ng Man-tat, Wong Kwan-yuen and other.

An earlier surprisingly potent drama directed by Johnnie To. Working within the borders of melodrama without mostly going overboard or silly, the story was written by its two leads. It was both a critical and box office hit around the time Chow Yun-fat was enjoying huge popularity. He had multiple notable films come out in the mid to late 80’s. 1989 alone had the release of both The Killer and A Better Tomorrow 3.

If you could forgive his long and messy hairstyle that he sports for the major duration and minute irksome plot points (blame it on the 80’s), you are going to have a worthwhile experience. The characterisation is strong enough, a story weaved together well hitting all the family melodrama points with all the turns you may or may not expect a film like this going for.

Chow Yun-fat plays Ah-Long, a single father raising his son Porky (Wong Kwan-yuen), working at a construction site to make ends meet. Living in a house representing the chaos and messiness of their lives, without a tidy contained center. The waking ups, hurrying for school and work, dressing up quickly, running, every day an adventure. They are loving a life created by them on their term, making every day count while being there for each other. Their love is evident, in all the arguments and playfulness. A strong bond built over time, an understanding of each other’s personality.

The missing mother is ofcourse played by Sylvia Chang as Por-por who is visiting from the US to shoot a commercial, eyes Porky during a bike racing audition and decides to cast him. We learn during flashback and in later revelations about the whirlwind relationship between her and Ah-Long. Both young at the time, involving cheating and a heated spat. Her mother already against their union because of his involvement in illegal racing takes matter into her own hands and separates them so her daughter can make something of her life away before it’s destroyed.

What works the most in the film is the journey created for these characters, the push and pull, drama that arises because of the circumstances and some difficult questions clashing into each other. Yet there doesn’t seem to be a right or wrong, or this or that here when it comes to the kid. The parents each have their own past but they just want what is best for the kid. The kid is the heart of the film. Raised in the image of his father but with none of his bad qualities. They have a wholesome relationship that until the arrival of the mother doesn’t seem to be missing a piece.

Features a good performance from Chow Yun-fat as well as Wong Kwan-yuen who delivers a convincing performance as a kid torn between the love he is used to and the love he didn’t know was missing. Well written story and direction.

3.5 / 5