Search - MEE POK MAN on DVD

One of the best asian film

bccheung | Calgary, Alberta Canada | 11/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I watched this film many years ago in HKIFF. I love it. And I am glad being able to see it again on DVD. The majority of reviews by other customers are extremely bad. I was wondering if my taste is really so different and then realised these reviews are all from N. America reviewers. No wonder they don't get one of the main idea of the entire movie: it is about a man with super low self-image and zero self-confident. These personalities are not uncommon in Asian places because of the education, culture, competitive society etc. I am not going to talk about the cultural difference between N.A. and Asia. If you haven't seen such a weirdo, either spend a couple of years in places like Tokyo/Singapore/Hong Kong, or watch this film (because the performance of the Mee Bok Man is superior). Background:
The story is about a lonely fish ball noodles (Mee Bok) stall cook. He has no self-confident at anything. He rarely talks. He would rather let others to take advantage of him instead of confronting. He lives in the past. For people who know him, he is a joke. For others who don't know him, he's simply a loser. He doesn't even has a name.Bunny is a prostitute. She kills her time in Mee Bok Man's stall when she has no business. She is pretty good looking and she got more business than others in her gang. She always look for someone who can bring her away and let her start a new life, for example, her caucasian photographer boyfriend.Mee Bok Man has a secert crush on Bunny. But he just don't have the courage to do anything except serving her Mee Bok. Main Plot:
I can't agree to other reviewers who say there's no plot. I do agree there's one place in the plot that doesn't make a lot of sense: why not going to the hospital? The story may be simple, a bit werid, and may not be entertaining enough for Hollywood movies lovers. But it's unfair to say there's no plot.The plot is: Mee Bok Man is always struggling for how to approach Bunny. And then one day Bunny got hit by a car. Mee Bok Man brought Bunny to his place (because Bunny can't go to the hospital??). He treats her the best. Bunny wanna go home at the beginning, but she's just too weak. Bunny was recovering slowly. And start being moved by what Mee Bok Man has done... but at the time they fall in love with each other, Bunny dies from her injury. Mee Bok Man blames himself. He start sealing the windows, and spent the rest of the days with Bunny...There are also some nice touches in the film like Bunny's brother revealing Bunny's dairy reverse-chronologically, the linkage between Mee Bok and Bunny, and the ending of the film. Overall, this is one great asian art film. The plot is not perfect. But both the director and the actor did a great job in portraiting Mee Bok Man."

A Great First Feature!

joe gallagher | Brooklyn, NY United States | 07/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great first feature. Its a sad slice of life love story set in a Singapore that you'll never find in a travel brochure. Yes it's a little first filmish, but it very well done. Great for people who like unusual, off-beat arthouse films."

A Great but Strange Love

Max Scharnberg | Stockholm, Sweden | 11/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A mentally retarded young boy was secretly in love with a prostitute. One night he finds her knocked down by a car and takes her home. She might have recovered by his loving care. Unfortunately she dies. He continues to love the corpse decently.
"