All About Ah Long (1989) (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version) Blu-ray Region A

At the heart of the film is the relationship between the titular Ah Long (Chow Yun Fat) and his young son Porky (Huang Kun Hsuan), who live together in Ah Long's rather squalid apartment. Ah Long works on a construction site, having given up motorbike racing after crashing and injuring his leg. However, the job doesn't bring in much money, and so one day he sends Porky to audition for a role in a commercial. Little does he know, the director is in fact Sylvia (actress and screenwriter Sylvia Chang, who has starred in many other Hong Kong classics, such as the Aces Go Places series, and directed the likes of 20 30 40 and Princess D), his estranged girlfriend whom he has not seen since he being sent to jail 10 years ago. Unbeknownst to Sylvia, Porky is in fact her son whom she was told died at birth, and she finds herself having to come to terms not only with him, but with Ah Long, especially in the light of her impending return to the U.S.

To's direction is tight, and despite the fact that the film covers a lot of emotional ground and character development, All About Ah Long progresses convincingly and smoothly. Similarly, although the central conceit of a woman unaware that she has a son may seem somewhat far-fetched, it is dealt with in a believable manner without dwelling pointlessly on who is to blame for the deception. Indeed, the film as a whole enjoys an air of realism and, as a result, it is far more than either a melodramatic custody struggle or a simple tale of a man's quest for redemption. The film is frequently amusing, though not intrusively so, and this lighthearted approach works very well, helping both to endear the characters to the viewer and to make the proceedings engaging in a wonderfully entertaining fashion.

The main characters are all well drawn and given an uncommon level of depth. To does not shy away from showing their faults as well as merits, especially and crucially in the case of Ah Long, who is shown in flashbacks to have been a genuinely nasty piece of work. As a result, the viewer genuinely cares for him, Sylvia, and young Porky, and the film shows a heartfelt sense of honesty throughout which is impossible not to be moved by. Although the plot does become somewhat predictable in its later stages, by this time the viewer has been drawn into the story and the fates of the characters to such an extent that this is barely noticeable and does not detract at all from its considerable impact.

The film is anchored by a marvelous performance from Chow Yun Fat, his role here being completely different than his usual suave charmers, though he does have a few opportunities to flash his trademark charismatic grin. The actor shows his great versatility, and the film serves as an excellent reminder that he is capable of far more than simply playing immaculately dressed killers. Young Huang Kun Hsuan is similarly impressive as Porky, a role that won him the Best Supporting Actor award at the 34th Asian Pacific Film Festival. As for Sylvia Chang, who garnered a Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress nomination for her performance as the torn Sylvia, her moving turn ensures that the viewer never sides wholly with Ah Long.

All About Ah Long is firmly rooted in the eighties, from the bouncy synth music to Chow Yun Fat's wild bouffant, which resembles that of Jackie Chan in Drunken Master (it should be noted that his is by no means the most ridiculous coif on show, with that honour going to Sylvia's assistant Peter who sports a bizarre female mullet). This gives the film a pleasantly nostalgic feel without being heavy handed, as well as adding a sense of time and place that further grounds the characters and underlines the basic humanity driving the story. It is this that truly captivates the viewer and makes the film an entertaining and moving classic that should be enjoyed by all viewers.

by James Mudge - BeyondHollywood.com