By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
The debut feature film Mad World by rising director Wong Chun has shone brightly at international film festivals. This Hong Kong film was selected for the 41st Toronto International Film Festival and won two major awards at the 2016 Golden Horse Awards: Best New Director and Best Supporting Actress, earning continuous praise. Lead actor Nicholas Tse fully immersed himself in the role of a bipolar patient — Tong — by communicating extensively with the director on every detail. Through this film, audiences are able to explore the depths of the character’s inner world through Tse’s powerful and nuanced performance.
Stills from Mad World. (Image provided by One Cool Jacso Entertainment)
The film tells the story of Tong (played by Nicholas Tse), who, since childhood, has had to take care of his mentally ill mother (played by Elaine Jin) alone after his father left home due to work and couldn’t support the family. As the eldest son, Tong is left to shoulder the burden. However, the emotions of the mother and son are intertwined and antagonistic, resembling a long and bitter struggle. One day, while helping his incontinent mother shower as usual, an accident occurs during an argument, leading to her death. Tong’s father, Chor-hoi (played by Eric Tsang), realizes that the problems he had been avoiding have led to tragedy. Having lived alone for many years, he is driven by guilt and loneliness, and following the hospital’s advice, takes Tong in to stay temporarily in his partitioned flat.
Stills from Mad World. (Image provided by One Cool Jacso Entertainment)
The two men, burdened with heavy guilt, are left with only each other. But living in a cramped space, these family members are also the ones who represent the past they find hardest to face. As they gradually step out of the shadows of their past and build a relationship in the narrow cracks of life, greater pressure comes from society…
Poster for Mad World. (Image provided by One Cool Jacso Entertainment)
【Info】
Mad World
Director: Wong Chun
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Eric Tsang, Elaine Jin, Fiona Fung
Genre: Drama
Taiwan release: April 7, 2017