When I Look Upon the Stars (1999)

Designer Aeroplane Kei leaves Shenzhen to visit his girlfriend June (Chan) in Japan. Unknown to Kei (Ku), June has been swayed from him during her time living there - the thousands of kilometres between them, long-stalled communication, and the presence of best friend-turned-expat manga artist Sam (Lee) are parts of the reason. It all comes as a shock to Kei, who tries in earnest to get back the relationship. It's not working - despite Kei's warnings, a disappointed June sticks with Sam, who's attempting a free-for-all with the local girls. Kei, meanwhile, gets drawn to sprightly Taiwanese model/waitress KiKi (Shu Kei) who quickly becomes his confidant and muse. A self-proclaimed fixer of broken hearts and cure for all sadness, she asks to be Kei's girlfriend for 24 hrs before his departing flight. The condition is that she leads the way, and Kei accepts...

Once KiKi hits the screen, it's her film. Her constant energy highlights the restrained character of the protagonist and puts it into perspective against herself, Sam and June. If only for 24 hours, you start to see in Kei what June wants to get out of. And come the end of that day and beyond, much has changed in Kei - not just what he says, but how he handles himself and relates to others.

To make all this work, the Japan setting helps things further as all the expatriate characters are out of their natural home; distances, memories and differences all come into play. And the setting is used, rather than exploited, by the filmmakers to paint a very casual backdrop for the players with enough local quirks and comedy thrown in for measure. Out of Hong Kong, the actors look like they're still at home and all put in some sharp roles. Centred around Ku, all actors help build more depth to each other's characters than usually seen in Hong Kong fare. And Shu Kei is simply incredible. The film stays straightforward and pleasant while accompanying the clean visuals is a fruity soundtrack from the same folks (T2) who did the music for Beast Cops. Dante Lam and Gordon Chan prove they're not all cops, triads and gore with this remarkably gentle and insightful romantic movie.

When I Look Upon the Stars painted billboard at the Merryland Theatre in Yuen Long.

Credits:

Directed by Dante Lam
Produced by Gordon Chan and Chan Hing-kar
Starring Leo Ku Kui-kei, Shu Kei, Sam Lee Chan-sam, Anita Chan and Eric Tsang