Claustrophobia

cover

Year of release: 2009

Genre: drama/romance

Director: Ivy Ho

Producers: Cary Cheng, Yee Cheung-Man

Writer: Ivy Ho

Cinematography: Mark Lee

Editing: Kwong Chi-Leung

Music: Anthony Chue

Stars: Karena Lam, Ekin Cheng, Felix Lok, Chucky Woo, Derek Tsang, Eric Tsang, Andy Hui

Rated IIA for mild language

Movie Review Index
Main Page

Claustrophobia  Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia  Claustrophobia

Screenwriter Ivy Ho made her directorial debut in 2009 with Claustrophobia, a unique take on the romance drama that that drew critical acclaim, but seems to divide viewers, who either seem to love or hate it. This particular reviewer, one to never like the traditional schmaltzy and sugary methods the genre applies to move the story along, appreciated Ho's methods, and definitely falls into the "love it" camp, or at least "really like it".

Claustrophobia begins with office manager Tom (Ekin Cheng) sacking one of his co-workers, Pearl (Karena Lam). Pearl is obviously upset at losing her job, but there appears to be something deeper running under her emotions. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Tom (who is married) had an affair with Pearl, and through the scenes, we piece together how the relationship started.

Tom and Pearl's relationship is never explicitly shown. Instead, the affair is brought to life via awkward glances and stolen snippets of conversations. It is this methodology that will cause many viewers to dismiss Claustrophobia as slow and obtuse. I will agree with this to a point. There are a few scenes that are extended for too long without any sort of "real" payoff. In particular, one where Tom and Pearl talk while a looped DVD repeatedly plays a commercial with a very annoying jingle threatened to veer off into self-important arthouse navel-gazing territory.

But the good outweighs the bad. For each moment that brings feelings of perplexion as to exactly what the hell Ho is trying to do, there are two or three that show the method to her madness (madness being a relative term in the squeaky-clean realm of the romance genre) and make clear why this film became a success and made Ivy Ho a director to watch for in Hong Kong cinema.

RATING: 7