Love in a Puff: A simple but interesting love story in Hong Kong

I am writing a review for the film “Love in a Puff”. This film can be classified as love film and the background is modern Hong Kong. The plot of it is quite simple, talking about Jimmy(志明) and Cherie(春嬌) encounter when they go smoking outdoor. They have feelings towards each other after Jimmy light up the cigarette for Cherie. They communicate mainly through short messages. Also, the psychological status of both Jimmy and Cherie is focused. This film reflects the current Hong Kong culture and the love attitude and style of the new generation. I think this film is successful since it can generate emotional response of Hong Kong audience especially the 70s and 80s.

Although this story of this film is quite simple, I did not feel bored about the film. Because it is very similar to real life, I felt like watching a true story of people around me. It truly reflects local Hong Kong culture. For example, the whole story is linked up by smoking. The implementation of the anti-smoking law banning people from smoking in indoor area in 2007 was a hot topic in Hong Kong. The film reflects the changes of smoker's smoking habit after the implementation of the law. Employees of different companies have to go outdoor to smoke and they gather together. This makes a place for picking up girls. Moreover, many foul language and jokes, most of them are about sex, are used in this film. This is to represent the local Hong Kong culture. Audience could feel that they are closely related to the film because foul language and jokes are what people might hear when chatting with friends in daily life. In addition, Cherie brings Jimmy to the Karaoke party of her friend. This relates to the life style of Hong Kong youngsters. Karaoke is a very common activity among Hong Kong people. This film also points out an affair that people would encounter in the online world like the Facebook. This represents the Facebook is very popular in Hong Kong. The Internet changes people's relationship that people would become friends in online world and might turn to meet in the real life.

What is more, the film re-present the love attitude of the new generation in Hong Kong nowadays. Love can grow very quickly that the relationship of Cherie and Jimmy becomes awkward romance just within a few days after they encounter. They start to send short messages to each other, trying to confirm how one another feels. This shows that people would like to communicate through short messages rather than on phone as they can think carefully before sending the message. Cherie suggests to change the mobile service provider to which Jimmy is using in order to have free short message service. We could see the importance of free short message service especially to the younger people. They regard sending short messages is an important way for communication. This film also tells the common thoughts of Hong Kong people on male and female regarding love life. Jimmy, as a male, is represented as not responsible, playful and not brave enough. Cherie, as a female around 30, is represented as more aggressive. She wants Jimmy to make a move to show her how he feels. This brings out the contrast between male and female in handling love life.

Chan Tsz Wai, Crystal

10426501