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FALLEN ANGELS **** out of *****
 Genres
1995
Written and directed by Wong Kar Wai Cast Leon Lai .... Wong Chi-Ming/Killer Michelle Reis .... The Killer's Agent Takeshi Kaneshiro .... He Zhiwu Charlie Yeung .... Charlie/Cherry Karen Mok .... Punkie/Blondie/Baby Fai-hung Chan .... The Man Forced to Eat Icecream Man-Lei Chan .... He Zhiwu's father Toru Saito .... Sato To-hoi Kong .... Ah-hoi
Prolific Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai first started making waves in the early 90’s with well-crafted films that had an altogether European avant-guard feel to them. They differed from other films seen in Hong Kong at the time, such as John Woo’s The Killer and Hard Boiled, and Ringo Lam’s Point of No Return. These films had created a staple of urban crime action films that dominated Hong Kong cinema for the most part of that decade. But Kar-Wai was creating a different type of product. His films, much like the action fare that dominated the screen, was also a product of its time, but Kar-Wai chose to portray his characters in a dramatic light, where relationship development took precedence over mindless violence and where violence was necessary to the plot, structure or character’s motivations.
 In Fallen Angels we follow five key characters: a disillusioned hit man named Wong Chi-Ming (Leon Lai); his forgotten ex-girlfriend with dyed blond hair (Karen Mok); his female partner (Michelle Reis); He Zhiwu a mute ex-convict (Takeshi Kaneshiro); and Charlie, a woman he meets on the streets (Charlie Yeung). These five characters are fallen angels, innocent lives that have sunk to new lows largely by their own doing. However, despite this they continue to seek happiness and fulfilment in life.
The journey each character takes lead them down both familiar and new paths: for Ming it’s one last hit, for his partner it’s her own self gratification at the thought of Ming, for his ex-girlfriend she seeks companionship, for He Zhiwu it’s to run his own business, and Charlie needs a shoulder to cry on.
 Each performance is uniquely interesting. Lai’s portrayal of the hit man does not only come out as being cool, but also brutal, efficient, and he also demonstrates a vulnerable side that is quite refreshing. Kaneshiro’s portrayal of the mute He Zhiwu is a joy to watch as he breaks into one business after another in order to fulfil his long time dream of being his own boss, but his attempts to satisfy customers only lead them away. His genuine comedian-like attributes come out in his character and add a lovable feel to him. Not to be outdone are the female cast who too hold their own, with Mok’s overbearing characterisation to Reis’ stunning turn as the in-lust partner to Ming, and finally Yeung’s turn as the dumped-over-the-phone girl who finds solace in the arm’s of another. Kar-Wai not only had a clear vision for each character but with casting these phenomenal actors he was able to bring them to life with wonderful results.
 Kar-Wai shows us an urban slice of life that was originally meant as the third chapter of Chunking Express, but thankfully it was cut and adapted into this piece that studies the depths that humans will go to while searching for happiness in a dark, unforgiving, empty city. Fallen Angels is one of Hong Kong cinema’s finest achievements, Kar-Wai manages to weave us into these people’s lives, viewing this film is more an experience than entertainment. Additionally the choice to photograph the city at night, with the use of a wide-angle lens and green-yellow colour palate not only brings out the feeling of a lost city but also adds a lonely and isolated look to the overall image that heightens the emotions the characters are going through.
I can easily recommend this film to all lovers of fine cinema. Fallen Angels is just stunning.
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