When I was checking out programme for Lunar New Year and Valentine's Five Flavours Festival, Leon Le's "Song Lang" was the movie that I was most excited for. The trailer promised a gay love story with theme of connecting life and art. It even made me a little teary eyed, so I expected to cry at the movie itself. However, I totally didn't expect how this film turned out. And, that it would leave me bawling my eyes out for a long time after finishing it.
 |
| But it was totally worth it. |
What makes "Song Lang" stand out among other love stories is, nothing is explicitly shown. There aren't any declarations of love or big damn kisses. At the same time, characters' feelings are clearly visible. During the time Phung and Dung spend together you can easily see how they go from hate to feeling comfortable in each other's presence (the scene when they play a video game together is precious) to something much more. It all could be achieved thanks to stellar acting. Instead of words, they "talk" with looks, gestures, facial mimics. Their body language is amazing, you can basically feel the chemistry between Lien Bihn Phat and Isaac. Wonderful job, really.
 |
| Fellas, is it gay to drink juice with a man you barely know, while looking out of his bedroom's window? |
If I were to choose one thing that is in central point of this movie, it would be emotions. We have main characters, who both don't express them, but for different reasons. Dung has to maintain his facade of tough, emotionless guy in order to be able to work. However, it clashes with who he really is. Early in the movie it's shown that he is just an ordinary man with a horrible job, not a psycho most people expect him to be. He plays with debtor's daughters, waiting for their parents to return, and is deeply shocked with what happens much later. He also cares about his friends and their relatives and is really upset, when one of them wants to follow the same "career". In opposition to Dung is Phung. He's an actor, a person who is expected to be emotional. However, he doesn't show any. He's great technically, but doesn't feel what he plays. That's why his mentor advises him to fall in love. Which he does.
"Song Lang" puts great emphasis on emotions not only storywise, but also in the way it's shot. There are long takes with close-ups at actors' faces, framed in a way that makes audience focus on them. This way even, if the character doesn't show it clearly, the psychological weight of the scene itself makes it obvious what they are feeling. And connect with them. As a result the finale is so emotionally intense, it's hard not to cry.
What's interesting, there is very little music. Of course, there is a lot of scenes with Cai Luong performances – very beautiful and enchanting (while we are at it: the soundtrack is on Spotify and I really recommend listening to it, Isaac has amazing vocal). They also serve as a foreshadowing for future events. However, it doesn't mean that rest of the movie is silent. All the time we get bombarded with sound: bustling streets, people talking, radio playing etc. Just sounds of daily life. It makes whole experience much more realistic and the scenes, where all these background noises are absent, having much bigger impact.
 |
| "Song Lang" was my first contact with Cai Luong and oh my, it's so beautiful! I wish I could see a live performance, it must be an unforgeable experience. |
"Song Lang" stands out in one more field – the visual one. There are many shots of the city that are so beautiful, you just want to screenshot them and set as a desktop wallpaper. Also, the locations were made to look as close to how Saigon looked in 80's as possible (for this reason it was recorded in Chinatown district of Ho Chi Minh), giving whole movie atmosphere of nostalgia. At the same time, you can see a subtly difference in colours of scenes showing daily life and the ones happening in the theatre – the latter are more vivid, lively. Even, if the city itself is beautiful, it still can't compete with splendour of Cai Luong.
To be honest, I cannot recommend this movie more. No words can do justice to "Song Lang", it just has to be experienced. However, bear in mind how intense this movie is when it comes to emotions. And prepare a lot of tissues beforehand, 'cause there will be tears.
 |
| A lot of them. |
Image sources:
Stills were screenshot from the official trailer and belong to Studio68.
The trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osev0NJE4xU
No comments:
Post a Comment