ALREADY TOMORROW in Hong Kong
Comparison with "BEFORE SUNRISE" comes naturally, yet this drama pushes the envelop further. Chinese American girl Ruby strikes up random acquaintance with ex-pat Josh, spends seemingly endless hours in Hong Kong's gorgeous night scene, filled with interesting characters, but mostly indulged in each other's company. Director Emily Ting skillfully delivered the punches at the right time. Like when Ruby facilely tells Josh that Greg (or is it Daniel ) who is coming to Hong Kong to help Ruby pack for return to the states and imminent engagement. "Now I don't know what I want!" gasped Ruby, as the taxi driver announced she has arrived at her stop. Real choice to make, and up a whole level from "Before Sunrise" because that movie ended on platonic note but here Josh and Ruby are faced with life decision, right in the cab. Diaglogs were intelligent and reflect how two middle class early thirty couple would talk. What could have been done better - not much except, Director Ting could add more filler to time between the two meet again, to space out the time and show a little what their lives apart from each other is like. And it bothers me a little that a Chinese American girl living in Los Angeles knows nothing of the language and culture of her own people. Even after a year of her job assignment to live in Kowloon (the twin city) that she exhibits no familiarity of things Chinese. If you overlook these two flaws, you have a very intimate and engaging romance.
By the way I totally disagree with other review who called this movie poorly lit. The bar scenes at the Lan Qui Lane, the ferry boat, the street scene with the hawkers were brilliantly lit; the street opera set does look dark but in fact that is how it looks exactly . It is properly lit to capture the exact nuance of Hong Kong. Director Ting obviously knows and loves Hong Kong.
