Beyond the Dream (2019)

Morally ambegues to say the least, but an interesting story

Is this teh real life, is this just fantasy... Delusions can be lovely fluffy and bring som much joy that you may want to stay in them....

Staying in the dream is dangerous, living in a tough and broken reality is also dangerous...

This movie does a great job inviting the viewers in to the world of the delusional as well as the world of the messed up psychiatrist. Showing us a spectrum of psychological and psychiatrical issues and fears as well as different consequences. All done really well.

This is not a happy movie, nor is it really educational or what one would say a guide to how one should live ones life. It is not a story that will make your heart flutter but rather one that will make you feel uncomfortable in a good way. It is a small window that gives you bits and pieces to show the reasons behind the actions, The reasons for staying in the delusions, reasons to avoid rocking the boat.

It is a los a movie that shows that the so called sain arn't that perfect offering a palatte of not only sanity but also power relations in a beautiful parallel mix that at least in my case got my head to spin...

Basically saying it is complicated.

However the filming is very much HK...

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Fantastic directing and great acting in a sensitive take on a delicate subject

What a wonderful watch. I loved how the story was revealed to the audience, from the first meeting of our protagonists, the relationship of Lok with Yan-Yan, to finally his second meeting with Yip Nam, and the struggles they went through. It was such an interesting way to tell their story, I completely didn't expect how it would unfold when I started watching.

I also think that the film provided us with enough information about both protagonists to understand their actions, including Lok's final decision or Yip Nam's lack of professionalism when she got involved with him in the first place. I liked that both FL and ML shared the same theme of their mothers affecting how they navigate relationships and love (I appreciated that Lok wasn't just reduced to being a person suffering from schizophrenia, but we got to hear of more of his life experiences influencing how he behaves).

The acting was great. Both main actors did a wonderful job, and both made me cry with their respective break-down scenes. The directing was beautiful. I loved all the far distance, wide angle shots, which - for me - emphasized the feeling of derealisation, but also switching from "Lok's perspective" to the "real world" perspective. I also enjoyed how a lot of scenes were filmed from the perspective of standing outside a window or hiding behind a shelf (as if someone was constantly there with Lok, following and observing him).

The movie treats the subject of mental illness with sensitivity and depth. I appreciated we got to see how Lok navigates his life (e.g. relying on the cellphone to see if a person talking to him is really there) and feel the insecurity he might feel, not knowing if things around him are real. The relapse scene at his apartment was really painful to watch. Yet at the same time, it was so well- filmed and acted that I was enjoying its every moment. The sequence when Yan-Yan and Yip Nam are both holding onto Lok and "fighting over" him was excellent in every detail!

Finally, a separate praise goes to the love scenes. The chemistry between Lok and Yip Nam was palpable, especially in that scene on a crowded train.

Highly recommended!

This was cross-posted with Viki.

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