Heroes in Love (2001)
Reviewed by: Paul Fonoroff on 2001-05-24
An omnibus movie consisting of four episodes in the space of 80 minutes, Heroes in Love will remind film school graduates of a class project. Like student productions, the chapters are a mixed bag, at times experimental, personal, and quirky, with long patches frustrating, dull, and immature. Whatever its shortcomings, the film is an important step in the development of 21st century Hong Kong cinema.

Chapter 1, “Kidnap” directed by Wing Shya, is a 20-minute exploration of a lesbian trying to come to terms with her sexuality. Unfolding in a manner that is slow, obscure, and non-didactic, this chapter will doubtlessly speak volumes to some. Others will be left chiefly with the impression that tortured lesbian love can be as tedious as the straight variety.

Chapter 2, “My Beloved”, has received the most publicity due to the helmsmanship of two pop idols, Nicholas Tse and Stephen Fung, who do not appear in front of the camera. The 24-minute tale focuses on a young man and his love for guns. The numerous jump cuts and idiosyncratic style fail to compensate for the half-baked philosophizing. It exudes the apprenticeship quality of a thesis film, except that most theses don’t enjoy a theatrical and festival release.

The most accessible of Heroes in Love’s portions is chapter 3, “Oh G!”, directed by disc jockey GC Goo-Bi. The most “conventionally” narrative of the bunch, “Oh G!” relates a very modern, very urban story of first love among the ICQ set. Charlene Choi and Lawrence Chou (in their screen debuts, as is indeed virtually the entire cast of Heroes in Love) give remarkably natural, credible performances. Though the initial energy is not sustained for a full half-hour, and the story ultimately has the feel of a good beginning in search of a conclusion, the overall result is far superior to such recent youth-oriented “commercial” features as Feel 100% II.

An unsatisfying conclusion is provided by Heroes in Love’s finale, a five-minute episode called “TBC” directed and narrated by Jan Lamb. It is a montage of shots from the first three chapters, with Lamb providing a roundup of what occurred and presenting the themes that ostensibly hold the entire film together. It has a rather tacked-on effect, and fails to provide the depth that Heroes in Love lacks.

Back in 1995, Jan Lamb was far more successful with the 30-minute Out of the Blue, one of the most effective non-mainstream movies produced in Hong Kong. Producer Winnie Yu and Jan Lamb are among the names behind both Out of the Blue and Heroes in Love. Regardless of the films’ success or failure, the Hong Kong motion picture industry is stronger for the commitment of producers willing to take a chance on projects that attempt to expand the boundaries of Cantonese cinema.

2 1/2 Stars

This review is copyright (c) 2001 by Paul Fonoroff. All rights reserved. No part of the review may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Reviewer Score: 5