[Movie Review] ‘Port of Call (踏血寻梅)’ humanises prostitution

Inspector Chong (Aaron Kwok) struggles with Ting Tsz-chung (Michael Ning). (Shaw Organisation)
Inspector Chong (Aaron Kwok) struggles with Ting Tsz-chung (Michael Ning). (Shaw Organisation)

Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like crime dramas.

Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.

Secret ending? No.

Running time: 98 minutes (~1.75 hours)

“Port of Call (踏血寻梅)” is a Hong Kong crime drama based on a 2008 murder case. It follows the story of a young 16-year-old prostitute and her eventual murder, and the impact this has on her family and the murderer. It stars Aaron Kwok (Chong), Jessie Li (Wang Jiamei), Patrick Tam (Smoky), Ting Tsz-chung (Michael Ning), and May (Elaine Jin). It is rated R-21.

“Port of Call (踏血寻梅)” has a strong Hong Kong flavour, and immediately impresses on you the fact that this film could not take place in any part of the world but Hong Kong. With this strong locality in mind, it proceeds to tell a grim but sorrowful tale of a young teenager who turns to prostitution not just out of financial circumstances, but to fill an emotional void as well.

Inspector Chong. (Shaw Organisation)
Inspector Chong. (Shaw Organisation)

Highlights

Aaron Kwok gives a charming performance as Inspector Chong

Aaron Kwok surprises with his portrayal of the humble but determined Chong. His investment into the case isn’t just to solve it, but also to make sure that all the affected victims of the murder, including the murderer himself, are taken care of within the justice system. He’s a gentle old man who means well, but we also see his regrets in how his single-minded altruism has affected his life.

Perspectives of both murderer and mother

The film balances the view points of May, the victim’s mother with Tsz-chung, the victim’s murderer. While it doesn’t make the murderer’s motives any more forgivable, it helps us to understand that his actions and intentions aren’t born out of cruelty, but from a rather warped sense of love. As a counterpoint, May’s love for her daughter is also one of the factors that result in Jiamei’s situation, making us realise that while both characters contributed to Jiamei’s death, they both meant well.

The perversions in the prostitution trade

“Port of Call (踏血寻梅)” provides insight into the prostitution trade by humanising both patrons and providers. There’s a distinct commercialism to all the portrayals, reminding us that it’s ultimately still a transaction. But the preferences and requests, which can be rather base, make it difficult to see this as just a trade (albeit, the oldest trade in the world).

A sympathetic Jiamei

The parallel stories of Jiamei’s life and the aftermath of her murder paint the picture of a disaffected young girl who seeks meaning in a mercenary world. It’s a more metaphysical need that she seeks to fill, yet it’s one that we can all identify with, even if it’s not life-threatening. It makes her a character that we can relate to, even if her actions aren’t the same ones we’d take.

Ting Tsz-chung. (Shaw Organisation)
Ting Tsz-chung. (Shaw Organisation)

Letdowns

Needlessly gruesome

The gore and violence are included for the shock factor, but it’s unnecessary to devote so much of the screen time to her murder. It doesn’t improve the characterisation or the plot, and ends up feeling like a showcase of pointless “artistry.”

Pretentious tone

The film attempts to subtly moralise, but doesn’t provide a solution to the issues that it raises. This take on Hong Kong’s prostitution trade feels holier-than-thou and slightly hollow, with the distinct feeling that it’s an outsider’s perspective of the whole situation. This creates a pretentious feel, that the creators are more interested in depicting a darker side of Hong Kong rather than providing a real message through the film.

Storytelling isn’t clear

The storytelling technique, while innovative, doesn’t lend itself to clarity. It takes a while for you to realise that certain scenes have segued into another time period. Perhaps the aim is to confuse viewers and add to that whole grey morality theme of the movie, but if it distracts from telling a proper story, then a more straightforward approach would have sufficed.

 

 

Jessie Li as Wang Jiamei. (Shaw Organisation)
Jessie Li as Wang Jiamei. (Shaw Organisation)

“Port of Call (踏血寻梅)” tells the story of people forced to face the meaninglessness of life, and the loved ones who have to suffer for it. But it could have been a deeper film if it didn’t try so hard to impress.

“Port of Call (踏血寻梅)” opens in cinemas 14 January, 2016 (Thursday).

This review was first published on Yahoo.

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