Cell Phone (VCD) (China Version) VCD

The plot follows Yan Shouyi (Ge You), a popular television chat show host who is carrying on a series of affairs, despite being married. Unfortunately for the cad, he accidentally leaves his cell phone at home one day, and when his mistress calls, his wife answers. This sets in motion a series of increasingly tricky situations, threatening his carefully woven web of lies and sending his life spiralling out of control.

Although Cell Phone is a comedy, it is likely to surprise anyone expecting laughs in the life-affirming style of Feng's previous hit World Without Thieves, being instead a dark, deeply cynical satire packed with bitter humour and biting social criticism. He leaves no stone unturned in exploring the ways in which new methods of communication have led to new ways of lying and new types of deceit, predominantly with regards to men cheating on their wives and girlfriends, and his bitingly accurate observations and great eye for unpleasant details result in a film which is all too believable. The film benefits from Feng's naturalistic direction, which is decidedly low key, and with a deadpan style more befitting a drama than a comedy. Unlike his other films, there are few set pieces, and very little in the way of slapstick, further grounding the proceedings in reality and allowing him to walk a very fine line between humour and domestic horror. It's fair to say that a large part of the film's humour is reliant upon the Chinese language, though even this is done in an acidic fashion and only serves to underline its baleful heart.

The film certainly hit home in China, where it was the source of great debate, causing confusion as to whether it was actually based on the life of a real life chat show host or not, and where its spot-on depiction of a widespread social problem apparently resulted in many real life couples to break up. Obviously, such issues of cheating and infidelity are equally applicable around the world, and sadly viewers from all countries will probably be able to relate to the incompetent duplicity of the film's protagonist. From this, it's certainly safe to say that Cell Phone is not a date film, with almost every scene imbued with deception and mistrust.

The only real problem with the film, ironically enough, is that Feng is almost too successful in his use of dark humour, and by focusing the action almost exclusively on the reprehensible Yan, he creates a moral vacuum and leaves the viewer no characters to cheer for or even sympathise with. Although it's easy enough to laugh at Yan, or at least to gloat over his ever-worsening situation, actually caring about what happens to him is another matter and without any kind of strong emotional core, the film at times feels a little cold and cruel. Accentuating this is the fact that the film's female characters are not particularly well written or likeable, being either too trusting and forgiving, almost leaving Yan with free reign to conduct his illicit business.

Again, this and indeed the film as a whole may be a realistic societal reflection, though it does at times make for rather depressing viewing. As a result, Cell Phone is a somewhat strange affair, undeniably clever and well made, though with the director possibly being too good at his own game, painting a bleak picture whose bitter comedy leaves the viewer unsure of whether they should be laughing or crying.

by James Mudge - BeyondHollywood.com