
China’s new wave of micro films like 干爹 are truly impressive. Sex is the seasoning, but there is, of course, quite a bit of theme, characterisation and substance under the sheets. These films may not be very polished and some of their actors’ performances can be pathetically amateurish, but at least, they are watchable! Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for a lot of local productions. What is missing? Dialogue that punches you in the face and make you turn back for more.
The film I’ve embedded below stars China model Wang Yue (photo above) who hails from Li Jiawei’s hometown, Beijing. More pictures of Wang Yue can be found here and I think she is most suited to the role of Xiao Man.
The bald statements in the film are especially gripping. Camwhoring. Frivolous reports on social media. Are there really so many happy people in this world? Or are they just showing off the envy-provoking side of their lives? Her acting is only passable, but with Wang Yue’s vampish image perfectly suited for the role, Xiao Man is the nerdy guy’s dream come true. She wants it as much as the guy does and makes no pretence.
Sex for contracts? Sex for grades? Sex for opportunities? The line between all those and impulsive sex just for pleasure is never clear. Lines are drawn only when arbitrary rules derived from morality are deemed necessary. But what is the true nature of such “transactions”? Has strict and rigid classification caused some of us to lose touch with the greyness of reality? No wonder our writers don’t write readable novels and our film makers lost their ability to make watchable films.
The story tails off rather bleakly. This is of course intentional. 身度 also has the same pronunciation as 深度 (depth) and I believe that is also intentional. This film offers not just pure titillation, but also some food for thought. The writer may have seen it as his moral duty to inject just a drop of karmic retribution into the picture. Personally, I feel that it’s more a sense of emptiness rather than loneliness that one will face if one wantonly indulges the way Xiao Man does.
© Chan Joon Yee
Dewdrop Books presents: Spellbound In Chiangmai