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Linger: On Unrequited Love |
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Written by Yeo Zhi Qi
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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/
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