In Your Dreams 以青春的名義 (2017) - Hong Kong
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
As part of the wave of local productions funded by the Hong Kong government comes a moody and arty film for first time director Tam Wai-ching, starting Carina Lau as the emotionally struggling and lonely housewife and potential young lover in a fantastic debut by Ng Siu-hin. “In Your Dreams” lack coherent storyline, but more than compensate with artistic and pretension to create a dream for the audience to follow through in their mind. The film is clearly aiming for art and festival circuits, but it lacks a cutting edge to take the rare controversial topic further.
Carina Lau plays a similar role she did so well in 2013 Indie “Bends” as a housewife struggling to come to terms of his husband infidelity and ended up seeking condolences with a younger counterpart. Newcomer Ng Siu-hin is impressive in debut and provides the core to the film’s key components and mood setting. Tse Kwan Ho is always wonderful as the cheating husband and always add an edge to his small performance. As for the scene stealing performance, it goes to Stanley Tung Wai who is simply outstanding as madman and alcoholic father that perfect fits the mood.
All in all, “In Your Dreams” plays out in extremely simple manner with largely indulgent performances and moody direction. It’s work just fine and it allows the audience slip a red wine or two and slowly inhale the mood and experience. Lau and Ng provides excellent chemistry throughout and the feel intensify as the film edges the finale. However, those looking for the cutting edge and deeper consequences on the dark subject matter will be left disappointed.
I rated it 8/10