The Mistress (1999)Back in Hong Kong after her studies abroad, Alex (Peng) is recruited as an English tutor to a married businessman's Chinese mistress, Michelle (Chen). Though initially harbouring a typical-of-Hong Kong low opinion of the mainlander, Alex quickly forms a close bond with her student. Michelle's a chirpy young woman showered with money by her man Henry (Lui) and she's living in luxury. But she's also in isolation - she knows it, Alex knows it too and the sighting of a troubled lady in an S&M club hints that it's not uncommon. As the two get close, Alex's imagination runs rife with adventurous sexual fantasy. And soon it becomes reality when Henry makes moves on her. Michelle scarpers and Alex inherits her place as the Henry's second woman to live a carbon copy existence of the former mistress. Built on this plot, The Mistress - director Kwok's first film - is so confident, charming and sensuous it's phenomenal. Flamboyant colour and eye-catching framing mark each scene as the quirky script streams out. Visual tricks aren't there for the sake of gimmickry but inject instant, and novel, emphasis when needed. Wait for the pig carcass scene and you'll know just what I mean - it's incredible. The sexuality isn't thrown in your face but holds an intriguing presence in both the fantasy and real worlds. And the music is constantly complimentary; a playful selection pumps up the visuals with bouncy Euro instrumentals, lush vocals and flecks of jazz at all the right moments. The casting is right on the money with all the actors giving a ditzy charm to their roles - Vicky Chen is particularly captivating and Ray Lui rocks anyway. The vision of Kwok and her creative partners astounded me and I left the cinema thoroughly satisfied by this film. |
Credits: Produced and directed by Crystal Kwok |
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