Year of Production: 1999 (Hong Kong)
Directed by: Jingle Ma Chor-sing
Starring: Richie Ren Hsien-chi,
Cecilia Cheung Bak-chi, William So Wing-hong,
Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Eric Kot Man-fai
Screen Play: Law Chi-Leung, Yueng Sin-ling
Editor: Kwong Chi-Leung
Production & Distribution Co.: Golden Harvest Films |
Synopsis:
The blind and mute Onion meets an untimely death
before he and the girl he loves gets the chance to tell
each other what is in their hearts. Then, being
six-billionth soul to enter Polaris, he receives an award
of having a wish be granted. He, therefore, returns to
Earth-but only for five days-in hope of actualizing the
love that is supposed to be. However, though he gains the
ability to see and speak, none of the people who knows him
recognizes him; and he is forbidden to-and won't be able
to-tell them who he really is. With time as his opponent,
and the emotions of his beloved his concern, he finds
difficulty in achieving his goal.
Comments:
This fantasy-romance film is indeed heart breaking!
Fly Me To Polaris is a classic tale of two people who have
been in love with each other but are too scared to admit it
out in the open…until it's already too late. For first-time
watchers, it is advisable to have a box of tissue somewhere
near. The (non-diegetic) music score intensifies the mood of
every highly emotional scene. The first time I saw it, I
couldn't help it to be carried away by the emotions transmitted
by the actors/certain scenes…I tried to resist it but it is
simply too much that I had to leave my seat several times just
to get myself some sheets of Kleenex (even when I viewed it again).
It is more on the melodrama side, yet incorporated with comical
dialogue to light up the mood and bring a roller-coaster drift
of emotions. It is a fantasy-romance story (fairy tale) that
is away from the conventional and-they-live-happily-ever-after.
Here, what most audience hopes to be the ending is not what is…
the film ended in a heart-piercing mode that would make people
see what reality is-that one's most desired wish hardly comes
true. (Well…it worked that way for me!)
I like the director's manipulation with regards to the presentation
of the film-world's time… he use flashbacks that doesn't seem to be
in a dream sequence…and also inter-cutting shots depicting a similar
experience of a character that happened in different times. Also,
fades to black are used in transition of scenes that has time gaps.
The music score also made an effective use of caesura in shifting
from one mood to the other; like in the scene where Onion is so
happy about Autumn telling him that she cares for him, he jumps
happily while on his way home (a preppy rhythmic song plays through)…
then suddenly he trips and gets hit by a car
(and the song instantly stops).
There are abrupt twists/surprises in the flow of the story that
just cause some violent reactions with our own emotions…
I think the reason why I liked this movie so much is that because
I can relate to the situation of the characters… well… this movie
is a good medium for anyone who wishes to have a good cry.
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