Filled with the director’s signature elements—decaying urban landscapes deluged with endless rain, a raging epidemic, and laconic youths motivated by sexual urges—this visually arresting film follows Chinese immigrant Hsiao-kang (Lee Kang-sheng), who is beaten unconscious in Kuala Lampur and is lovingly cared for by a local man who develops a crush on his injured charge. While language barriers and reticence hinder communication between them, an unspoken bond is conveyed through a mixture of Malaysian pop and Cantonese opera, but emotions run deep when Hsaio-kang becomes involved with a waitress. 2006, Taiwan/France/Austria, color, 35mm, in Malay/Mandarin/Bengali with English subtitles, 115 minutes.
