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”
Diane says: “I join Michael and Chris in giving 4 cats to Cinematography nom BLUE SUN PALACE. Oblique in its storytelling, subtle in its acting, I can hardly believe it’s a debut film. It’s about several Chinese/Taiwanese immigrants in NYC, employed in a massage parlor and construction supply.
“Glad I saw this on a big screen (my friend’s condo building has a theater room–yippee!), since the camerawork is indeed superlative. Shots are mostly very close, and often contained by curtains, inviting us to appreciate the details and imagine the larger setting.
“My companion found PALACE excruciatingly slow, but I delighted in it, especially as the pace allowed time to really take in the visuals–the faces, the geometry, the yearning….
“Highly recommended. Available on Amazon.”
Jess says: “Caught this through the independent spirits. I thought it was a tad long and a little slow but enjoyed it so much I voted for Haipeng Xu for Best Supporting Performance on my indie spirits ballot. I believe they shot on film and I think that really adds a lot to the atmosphere. ”