Online Review: The Midnight After

        The Midnight After is filmed according to the novel written by Mr. Pizza who posted the story on HKGolden forum. The story is about a series of mysterious events happened on 17 passengers and drivers who got on the red minibus which travel from Mongkok to Taipo. Although it is a science fiction, stereotyping can be found in the creations of every character.

        The driver of the red minibus, Suet, is portrayed as addicted to gambling, bad mouth, and less educated. Minibus driver is treated as a lower class job and they have bad habits and live like philistine. Besides, they are thought to be fat since they have to be sitting all day one their driver seats.

        Sin, one of the 17 passengers, who is a programmer, plays as the brain trust of the group. He is described as wearing glasses, owning different kinds of high tech devices and thinking logically and critically. Sin is probably representing intellects, which are clever, gentle and helpful. He has no desire to be the leader of the team although he has the ability. It is representing the situation in Hong Kong, there are many elites who are well-educated refuse participating in politics.

        Yuki is a beautiful lady who is worried about her boyfriend. She is weak and emotional. These characteristic let her be the one who is being accepted and protected. She is shown as a typical example of how a beautiful girl will be treated in Hong Kong. They take advantages of their attractive outlook to be loved and protected. They need not to be clever, strong or helpful.

        Uncle Fat, a middle age man, is a guy that tries his best to be the leader of the group. He wants to confirm his status in the group, in order to compensate his failures in his life, moreover, to committee the preference of society. Middle age men are preferred to be experienced, successful or ever being successful. They have to be responsible and dominant.

        ‘Aeroplane Yuk’, a teenage, is usually described as MK. MK is representing the teenagers who are self-centered, disregarding to the consequences, and most of the time being useless or even doing stupid things. In the film, Aeroplane Yuk rapes a lady even though she is dead. He claims that there are no more laws and rules, so that he can do what he wants.

        Wai is an introvert. He talks less and listens to music alone. Not only because he does not good at communication, but the others think that he is a nerd, therefore he is being ignore. Recently in Hong Kong, people used to call introvert people as “poisoned”, which stereotype them as weak in socializing, lack of self-esteem and having weird habit.

        Films help standardize the conception of individuals in society base on their race, outlook, behavior, social class, and gender (Schweinitz 1893) by exaggerate portrait of the characters.

Reference:

Schweinitz, J 1893, ‘Film and Stereotype: A Challenge for Cinema and Teory’, Columbia University Press, N.Y..

Yung Yi Piu, Cyrus 10488054/21234082