By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Constance Tsang
Starring: Damien Brown | Haipeng Xu | Kang-sheng Lee | Ke-Xi Wu | Yvonne YF Chan
Year: 2025
Running time: 116
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32119297
Michael says: “Low-key and understated, but writer/director Constance Tsang’s debut feature, packs a strong emotional punch. The film features a lengthy prologue that leads you to believe that one character is the lead, then switches after a surprising turn of events. This tale of two immigrants struggling to make things work in Queens truly captures the hardship and isolation that they both feel. Really loved the community in New York City that Tsang focuses on. Cinematography by Norm Li is stark and unforgiving adding to the tone of the story, and changing when the story shifts locale. Great to see Tsai Ming-liang regular, Lee Kang-shen working in another filmmaker’s project. Ke-Xi Wu’s Amy is also a standout, showing two sides of a woman facing post-traumatic stress. Tsang is definitely a filmmaker to keep an eye on. 4 cats”
Chris says: “I’m grateful that I went into this cold but will say the world it builds in the first thirty minutes is masterfully executed. When something suddenly upsets the order of it, you thoroughly feel what’s changed and what has been lost. I concur with Michael that Constance Tsang is a filmmaker to watch. 4 cats”