The Hong Kong group Beyond
was the most popular Cantonese rock band from the mid-80's to the early 90's.
So it made sense that someone would put them all together to star in a film
about budding musicians. And throw in Faye Wong (Chungking Express) as well.
Beyond and Faye Wong? How could it miss. Easily. By barely having them play
any music. Turning it into a drama-comedy. With no music. I don't know much
but that strikes me as a really bad idea. In 1991 they were at the height
of their popularity and Faye Wong was yet to hit it big but had put out a
few albums under the name Shirley Wong. What makes it really sad is at the
end of the film Beyond performs one song live and it is really good. Poor
Faye just gets a girlfriend role.
So what is it about you might ask. Or likely not but here goes. They are
four young men who have just graduated and have to make it in the Eat Em
Up World of Hong Kong. One becomes an investment salesman where selling is
the name of the game. Another goes to medical school because the father of
his girlfriend (Faye) wants him to even though he wants to major in music.
A third wants to become a cop but can't pass the physical test and so becomes
a traffic cop - or a yellow cop as they are taunted and yelled at by people
they give tickets to - due to their light brown uniforms. The fourth one
is kind of interesting and brought the Hui Brothers and their working class
films to mind. The family wants to emigrate to American before 1997 but need
to show the USA visa staff that they have enough money to do so. Headed by
the father (Henry Fong Ping) the whole family of two parents and three children
hustle and hustle to do any job and bring in money. In the end they decide
to stay because they love Hong Kong. They are probably trying to leave again
right now. There are also a number of AIDS jokes which back in 1991 in Hong
Kong films were often considered targets for humor.
It isn't a terrible film - rather a pointless one though - but how nice would
it have been to see Faye Wong (whose music is great if you don't know it
beyond California Dreaming and her version of Dreams by the Cranberries.
Di-Dar released in 1995 is pretty great. How about a Cantonese version of
A Hard Day's Night instead.
