Fallen Angels (1995)
aka Do lok tin si First screened in July 2003 / Most recently screened in August 2024
Director: Wong Kar-wai. Cast: Leon Lai Ming, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Reis, Charlie Young Choi Nei, Karen Mok Man Wai, Chen Man Lei, Chan Fai Hung. Screenplay: Wong Kar-wai. VOR:③
Clear case to be made for Wong's filmography collectively; plenty of filmmakers can take valuable notes (and have). But this is minor Wong.
A playful runway show by a brilliant designer who's testing out ideas and techniques. Wong can pleat, ruche, bias, or distress celluloid like it's the silkiest, most shimmering fabric in the world.
That said, I'm not that tempted to buy anything? Even the models don't always look comfortable. Plus, as soon as each new one walks out, diverting as they are, I've already forgotten the last couple. I'm glad I came to see this, but hey, what do you wanna do about dinner? I was hungry when I got here, and now I'm starving.
Not sure why Wong has trapped as poised and sexy a presence as Takeshi Kaneshiro in an outfit that doesn't fit him, and likely wouldn't fit anyone. I get Takeshi's loyalty to this designer, but you can't win 'em all. My eye was much more drawn to Chen Man Lei, even though we only saw him a couple times, in those grainy, retro textiles. It's refreshing to see an older model included in one of these youth-oriented shows, and they've showcased him so sweetly without seeming to condescend. A quiet highlight of this collection.
The ladies, meanwhile, all look fetching, but some of their get-ups are a little tacky, and I'm not sure why Wong wants them to blend together so much.
Also, I'm positive we all remember his justly famous Gangster/Underworld collections, and I can't totally fault someone for repeating a trick that successful. But I'm just not sure all the holsters and ammo belts make sense this time. Can't we just let this show just be its own thing? Mightn't we save all the gun violence for when we're doing something creative with it, or have something to say about it, without just presuming its inherent coolness? Grade:B–
