I would say Love in the buff is a successful movie
because it catches the viewers’ attentions and discussions. The focus of my
review is the stereotyped representation of mainland female in the movie.
Love in the buff is directed by Ho-Cheung Pang.
A sequel to Pang's
incredibly well-received romantic comedy Love
in a
Puff.
It has already made more
than HK$25 million at the box office.
The story of Love in the
Buff
starts from the separation of Cherie Yu (Miriam Yeung) and Jimmy Cheung (Shawn Yue).
The young former couple
moves to Beijing for career in different time. They meet other people
in Beijing. Jimmy meets a beautiful flight attendant, Shang you you
(Mini Yang) while Cherie meets a reliable engineer,
Sam (Xu Zheng).
The former couple meets in Beijing accidentally and starts dating again. They struggle to get back together
while cheating their partners. It is a complicated love story which involves
four people.
Shang you you is a Beijing girl. She has appealing outlook with nice body. She is sexually harassed by one passenger while she is working on the plane. Jimmy reported the incident to the pilot and the passenger gets caught. You you promises repay a favor that Jimmy did for her on plane. They meet in a bar named Bed. You you becomes Jimmy’s girlfriend after their dating in the bar.
I
would comment you you is a tragical character. Actually, mainland girls are
competitors of Hong Kong girls as more and more Hong Kong male are looking for
partner in China. In fact, a girl with decent outlook like You you, is easier
to get boyfriend in the real world. Remember that Jimmy has been single for
more than three years. It is right for them to start a relationship. However,
the story puts her in an unfavorable position. For example, Cherie’s best
friend, Isabel uses foul language to criticize you you when Cherie and she see Jimmy
are together with you you in Beijing. Isabel says you you is cheap and named
her “puxxy” (female reproductive organ in Cantonese foul language). You you is wearing
tube top and putting heavy make-up on her face at that scene. It creates a “foxy
woman” (狐狸精) image for the mainland girls for audiences. It is also
a negative stereotyping in local film. At the end of the movie, Jimmy chooses Cherie
and decides to break up with you you. As audiences think that Cherie and Jimmy
should be the “perfect pair”, I think there are not many Hong Kong audiences will
sympathize
you you. In fact, Jimmy betrays you you.
You you is stereotyped as a competitors from China to develop relationship with Hong Kongers. She is a “foxy woman” with attractive outlook. People would have happy to see the reconciliation of Cherie and Jimmy at the ending. However, as we can see, both you you and Sam are the victims of the story. It seems that a lot people miss this point. It shows that stereotyping is an important element in developing a movie character. It will affect the interpretations and impressions of audience.
Wan Tai Chi, Michael
10484000
Thanks Michael for expressing some views from the bottom of my heart! You have identified a few important and distinctive features of Mainland women depicted in the selected film. I agree that both Sam and Youyou are victims under the “Hong Kong-centric” style of the film. In fact Youyou did nothing wrong but just too “perfect”, an ironic reason for losing in the love game, according to the confession of Chi Ming during their breakup.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the stereotypical gender representation of Beijing young ladies, the character of Cherie cannot escape from the dominance of men too. Though she is tough and independent, taking active role in terminating the relationship, she doesn’t really have control over her love life. It seems that she is always “ready” for Chi Ming and has no “real” choice in deciding her love fate…
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review / commentary on this film. You made great points about the movie and I agree on this. I couldn't help but feel bad for Youyou in this movie. She really did nothing wrong. We all understand we can't truly control whom we actually love.
However I can't help but feel that this film almost encourages unfaithfulness and "almost" says that as long as you're cheating with the one you love, it's justified!
It is tragic that both Sam and Youyou were the victims of the story with no recourse. It's even more tragic that someone like Youyou put her faith in a man that couldn't see what she was worth.
I am a Chinese American (parents from HK) male whose personal story ends quite differently. After breaking up with an angry and bitter HK/American woman from NY, I am getting married to a wonderful, funny local Beijing girl at the end of this year! =)
-JL