Linger: On Unrequited Love

Written by Yeo Zhi Qi

Death seems to suggest an absolute end to relationships with the departure of one party. However, Linger springs an alternative to such commonly held notion about death. Leaving this world could instead, be a reaffirmation of unresolved issues in a relationship, as portrayed by the onscreen couple Dong (Vic Chou) and Yan (Li Bing Bing).         As the title suggests, this film grapples with heavy themes of nostalgia and loss. When Dong loses his life in a traffic accident after a squabble with his girlfriend, he enters the realm of Yan's imagination as soon as she stops her reliance on the doses of sleeping pills.         During which, the audience is taken on a refreshing romantic journey between a spirit and a human being, as both rekindle past feelings and clear up past grievances.         Varied notions of love are brought into light as we delve into not just the romantic bond between the couple, but familial relations as well - the strained relationship between Dong and his father.         Differing from mainstream blockbusters, Johnnie To's style takes the audience on a journey of exploration and reflection. With a script of impactful conversations, and a play on metaphors, including an imagery of a butterfly that aptly suits the theme of death and remembrance, it is clear that To wants to differentiate his latest production from the run-of-the-mill sensational pop idol movies.         However, the slightly confusing plot blemishes his artistic direction. The introduction of a character, who has a similar personality to Dong's does no help in bringing out the essence of the movie. Instead, it leaves one wondering about the purpose of his presence towards the end of the film, when the plot does not develop any further after he meets with a car accident as well.         Linger is not merely about the pain of losing a loved one. It blurs the distinction between memory and forgetting, when forgetting becomes an impossibly difficult task, and one lives the present day, clinging on to memories from yester years.          As Yan painfully confesses, "I never spoke a word about it because I've been trying to learn to let you go."         Ironically, she only learns to let him go by remembering Dong again, as he returns in the form of a spirit every night, whether during her nightly jogs, or taking her on adventures to the beach.         At the same time that Yan is released from the trappings of past memories, Dong is able to leave the realm of this world and ceases to be a wandering spirit. His absence now brings a clear resolution, as both part with a final embrace and a journey back into the past when they first met and where sparks of love flew.          More than just a movie of pop idols, Linger attempts to delve into issues of remembrance, loss and presents it hauntingly well. hooked hooked's rating: 3.5/5 Wanna know more about the movie from the male lead, Vic Chou himself? Check out Linger's Press Conference here! Images courtesy of: Encore Films http://www.asianpopcorn.com/ Comments Write Comment Name: Guest Title: Comment:

 

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