Something Missing from "Chinese Box"
Set during the last few months of colonial rule in Hong Kong, just prior to her return to mainland China, "Chinese Box" is an intriguing film that tries to encapsulate the mood of Hong Kong as symbolized through its three main characters. We meet up with John (Jeremy Irons) who is a foreign journalist that has been living in Hong Kong for the last 15 years. The world as he knows it is changing perilously fast. Like the British rule that is about to come to an end, John discovers that he has an advanced form of leukemia and that he only has a few months to live. "I wonder if I'll last longer than the British," he says of his situation.
John, despite having a family, has always carried a torch for the beautiful Vivian (Gong Li), who is a karaoke bar manager and former, high-priced club girl from mainland China. Vivian is now in a relationship with wealthy businessman Chang. She longs for marriage and family, but because of her less-than-honorable background, she eventually realizes that a future for them is all but impossible. Like the tie between the mainland and Hong Kong, it is an uneasy relationship fraught with innuendo, questions, and ambiguity.
With only a short time to live, John would like to find a way to win Vivian's heart again. But he doesn't want to spend the rest of his precious time just chasing her. He also decides to take his video camera wherever he goes so that he can document the city and her secrets. One such discovery is Jeanne (Maggie Cheung), who is a resourceful peddler. She tells her life story to John after being offered money for an interview, and reveals how an English schoolmate broke her heart which resulted in her trying to commit suicide. Her facial scars symbolize the torture of British influence. But her spirits are fiery as a result. Later on in the film, John reacquaints Jeanne with her long, lost love, but the now-young British man doesn't even recognize her. She weeps momentarily, but then soon begins to peddle her wares with more determination. This is a stately and poetic scene that gives a glimpse into Hong Kong's fragility.
There is an underlying elegance to this film and its setting is innately interesting. In many scenes, we eavesdrop into conversations and listen to the banter of the businessmen that speak of opportunities in the new era. Other parts of the film are seen through John's video camera. John's need to record everything on video speaks to his desire to preserve a Hong Kong that he has grown to love. Yet, at other times, watching can become a distracting experience. Sometimes, it seems as if the shooting is rushed. Although the movie was shot during Hong Kong's period of reversion to capture the frenetic atmosphere, the picture is sometimes shaky as if the cameraman is struggling to keep up with all that is swirling around him.
It also never quite reaches the dramatic heights that it seems capable of given the rich atmosphere, time period, and beautifully envisioned characters. I couldn't quite embrace the reason why John pined for Vivian. Also, Vivian was by far the most complex character and her desire and struggle for acceptance was intriguing, but her story is largely left unexplored and we are left with annoying question marks in our heads because we want to know what she will do next given her resourceful nature. Gong Li possesses an understated eloquence, but seemed painfully underused. Overall, I was fascinated by the undertones marked by the impending changeover and was receptive to the idea of opportunities that can arise from starting anew. But there seems to be so much more going on than what we could see on the screen. Ambitious but ultimately unfulfilling, I wished that "Chinese Box" would have revealed more.
Grade: C+
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