Fallen Angels
(1995)
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Takeshi Kaneshiro
Charlie Yeung, Michelle Reis
Rate: 8 (1-10)
Film Review by Anthony Harrison
"I'm a lazy person, I like others to arrange things for me. Like who's to die, and where and when-is all planned by others. That's why I need a partner". These are the words spoken by the character Ming, in the 1995 Hong Kong film "Fallen Angels". This belief of his, explains his current situation and represents his attitude towards life. The film showcases the relationship between Ming and his business partner, as well as the relationship between a man named He Qiwu and his father, his work, and his short term girlfriend. Successfully, the movie intertwines the two stories, making them fit and connect in subtle and not so subtle ways. By the end of the film it leaves the viewer thinking, about the ways in which we experience life, and the way in which we are suppose to experience life. At least that's what the director, Wong Kar-wai intended when he made this film, and in my opinion, he succeeds. The first story the movie presents is the story between Ming, who is an assassin, and his partner. His partner does all the preparation and planning, so that all Ming has to do is kill. No decision making is his modo for work and for life. His statement about being lazy and liking the identity, time, and place of a person's death to be all planned by others, suggest that he feels the same way about life in general. The planner, being God, has already made the decision making, and all Ming has to do, is do the job, whatever that may be. The character Ming grows throughout the movie by conflicts that derive from his relationship with his partner, who is a woman that remains nameless throughout the entire film. They've been partners for years and when she begins to fall in love with him he decides to terminate their relationship, although her falling in love with him didn't solely cause his decision. He finally made up his mind to end the partnership when he got shot. As the story of Ming and his partner unfolds, the movie shifts to another story. He Qiwu's story. At the age of five, He Qiwu ate an expired can of pineapples and lost his ability to talk. This handicap made it difficult for him to find or keep a job, so he decided to become his own boss. By breaking into stores after hours and running them. The customers who are unfortunate enough to come to the store he's taken over, are forced to buy something. It was by doing this that created He Qiwu's criminal record, and from the help of his father whom he has a deep bond with, he manages to dodge the police numerous of times. "We rub shoulders with people everyday, strangers who may even become friends or confidants." These words represents one of the ways He Qiwu feels towards people and life. And these words also represent one of the attitudes or beliefs that the films itself portrays. When He Qiwu's character is introduced, the connections between the two stories begins to show. There is a specific scene in the film that displays the way in which complete strangers can find a connection between one another by just walking passed each other. One day Ming's partner, who is intensely in love with him but fears to get too close, unknowingly walks pass Ming's girlfriend, Blondie, but as she walks by she stops, because she recognizes Ming's smell on Blondie. Blondie also recognizes Ming's smell on Ming's partner. They both stop and look at each other. The characters Ming and He Qiwu both reach a point in their lives where they decide to change, due to some form of pain they experienced. Ming gets shot and decides to end his partnership and stop having things arranged for him, and make a decision for himself wether it be right or wrong. Ming changes, or evolves by deciding to live differently by arranging things himself, and not relying on others to do so for him. He Qiwu gets his heart broken and decides to change his ways and be more responsible. He decides to stop breaking into stores after hours and running them and gets a normal job. Ming and He Qiwu both change, which is one of the things this movie is about. It's about connections, changes, decision making, and life in general. Wether one believes in the possession of free will or not, life is meant to be enjoyed even if it has already been planned out for you. Depending on your belief. Visually, the film has a life of it's own. It's evident that the director, Wong Kar-Wai has a very distinct visual style. The look of the film is captivating and pulls you into the imagery presented. It's the cinematography and editing that is the highlight of the film. Filled with a huge amount of energy, the film grabs you, screws with your head, and slowly lets go while the credits roll. The director's use of super 8mm, 35mm, oblique angles, slow and fast motion would seem like overkill in most other directors hands. But Wong manages to make it all make sense. There is very little dialogue in the entire movie, due to the fact that the story is toldmostly with narration from the main characters. The viewer is transported into the mind of the characters for most of the movie, and it works. The editing is fast paced andimmensely energetic, and it's this and the camerawork that give the movie so much energyand drive. The film gets a little boost from the acting as well, which is also powerful, butit's clearly the director, cinematographer and editor, who make this movie so much of a thrill to watch. Being a foreign film I thought that there would be certain views and or beliefs portrayed in the film that might be incomprehensible to some people not native to that country, but I felt that many of the beliefs were universal. Beliefs about making a change. Wether it's for the better or worse, doesn't really matter, as long as one doesn't spend his/her entire life following the plans and decisions made by others. And beliefs about the interactions with others can lead to many different possibilities. He Qiwu's words of strangers rubbing shoulders with each other, who may become friends or confidants, is evidence of this belief portrayed within the movie. Ultimately this movie leaves it's audience with an experience that will be remembered for quite sometime after initial viewing. Not many films have such a distinct style and image, and it is fortunate that Wong Kar-Wai allowed the world to see his vision realized. During the final scene in the film, Ming's partner says to herself, "The road home isn't very long, and I know I'll be getting off soon. But at this moment I'm feeling such lovely warmth." Now at the moment she said that, she was riding on the back of a motorcycle with a guy who was giving her a ride home. But the words are very relative to life. By "the road home", she could mean the length of life to death, and by "the moment" she could mean the time that is cherished during life. Overall, Fallen Angels is a visually stunning and thought provoking film that I recommend to everyone, who is a fan of intelligent and outstanding works of art.
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