Days of Being Wild
Days of Being Wild [1990]
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung, Andy Lau, Carina Lau
Direction by Wong Kar-wai
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
If the movie does anything well, it is character development that excels. Although the movie was quite short, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of symbolism Kar-wai was able to pack into it. All of the characters felt very fleshed out, but not the the point where their storylines became repetitive, as is the case with may Western movies. Kar-wai's craft, in my opinion, is giving the audiences small hints throughout his movies, meaning that the full picture of any character is left unseen until their last moments on stage.
Leslie Cheung, the main character, was great as York, or Yuddy. However, there was a slight issue with the writing of his character, in my opinion. He played the role of an aloof character throughout the movie, and his character development was how he managed to manipulate those who tried to come close to him, how he managed to extort them using sex or guilt. I feel like the issue with aloof characters and the portrayal of them is that there is that, whilst watching, it is very difficult to grasp the symbolism behind what the character says and what the character does. Whilst I do appreciate a movie that makes me think after it is finished, it was a little bit unsatisfying to watch how there were virtually no variations in her character.
However, the women in the story were not only written superbly well, but were performed incredibly well. Maggie Cheung played the role of Su Li-Zhen, a woman that, despite being written as a character that was very dependent on love, was written in such a way that it did not feel repetitive to watch. Maggie Cheung was able to execute these nuances perfectly; her trust issues from her previous relationships, her yearning for comfort away from home, her desire to stay focused on what was best for her. It was in the scene with Carina Lau and Cheung that she really excelled. The relationship between women, especially between those in a love triangle is incredibly complex, and both actresses layered their performances in a way that was both startling yet a thrill to watch.
This idea of women performing very well in the movie was extended with Rebecca Pan's role: she played a minor character; that of a foster parent both fiercely protective and possessive whilst also trying to act detached. All maternal roles are difficult, but the very fact that the dynamic between Pan and Leslie Cheung was one of an almost self-destructive child with a foster mother added a whole new dynamic to the relationship.
The idea of sexuality was also very interesting with this film: in the movie 'In the mood for love', romantic chemistry was displayed in a very touching, heartfelt and pure way. However, love, or what may be considered to be love was presented in a raw, sexual and tense way. This was a very interesting choice: I feel that sexual chemistry adds a very distinct layer to any story, and that effect was crystal clear in this movie.
The chemistry between the cast was so good, and I could feel that coming through the screen. I have realised that Kar-wai tends to cast people from a small pool of actors in his movies: Maggie Cheung, for example, appears in several of what people deem to be his most successful films. It is that chemistry with the actors and the director as well, therefore, that makes all his movies so successful. Days of Being Wild was no exception.
If you have not watched Kar-wai yet, this is your sign.
9.5/10
