The Young Ones (2001)

It's as if some filmmakers are seeking more mileage from the troubled teens genre displayed so well by Lawrence Lau's Spacked Out last year. Taking a vaguely similar approach without the former's docudrama feel and contentious diversions, Lee Siu-kay's The Young Ones one had a low-key release in January. Sam Ho's Cat III-rated Gangs 2001 came out in March. And by early April, Sweet Sweet Home was released with promo literature bearing a tagline suggesting it's 'more real than Spacked Out'. I have yet to see the other two entries in this recent crop of films, but The Young Ones proved an interesting and watchable introduction.

The gist of this one is simple enough -- four girls deal with personal problems in an unsupportive environment. Fifteen year-olds Tung Tung, May, Fat Girl and Coco are all heading through a rough patch. The group's supermarket "buffets" and school problems are already attracting attention but behind the scenes affairs are much worse. Tung Tung's shifted out of home to live with her uncle, who promptly molests her, and triad troubles see teetotal Coco forced to swill beer and raped once drunk. A quest for cash leads one teen to prostitution and the others to selling bootleg VCDs to a leering Mongkok audience. And then matters turn worse still.

The plot does not match up to the spoken message that precedes the film, which informs audiences that laws can restrict under-18s' rights but not their thoughts. More importance is instead placed on a theme of giving support to young Hongkongers, listening to their problems and providing nurturing environments at home, at school and at play. The predicaments the stars are put through are extreme and the resolutions too simple to be credible for viewers, let alone involving. But I appreciated the good intentions displayed on screen and was moderately impressed once the film was over.

Production standards are above-par throughout and the acting proved pleasing to watch. Visuals are clean with interiors often lit with a strong range of colour while the music features undiluted keyboard bar a final song featuring the girls on stage.

One location in The Young Ones is of particular note: the Warehouse in Aberdeen. Established in 1987 as a drugs-, alcohol- and cigarette-free area for community arts, recreation and music, the venue built itself as a haven for youth otherwise granted few steady venues for their use. The film represents this place well, even including the stage that's played host to local and visiting indie bands over the years. Interestingly the charity received orders to the complex in late-2000, with the government citing an unstable roof on a detached annex building. Seeing this setting in a film dealing with inadequate support for Hong Kong youth was somewhat suitable, bearing in mind this decision.

DVD information: The Wide Sight DVD presents the film in a no-frills edition, notably without any indication of the film's English-language title on either the case or disc menus. The letterboxed picture quality is crisp throughout, while the speckles running throughout he main attraction didn't mar my viewing experience. The film's Cantonese synch sound recording comes across clearly and a Mandarin dub is provided. Subtitles are easy to read and come on the print. The only other disc features are a Chinese-language Introduction and a six-chapter menu screen.

Right: The Wide Sight DVD edition front cover.

* Note: This film is reviewed on the video release and not in the cinema.