Ah fei jing juen / Days of Being Wild (1990) - Desperate Characters Are Chasing Dreams in British Hong Kong and the Philippines - 7/10 (08/10/24)

Days of Being Wild, originally known as Ah fei jing juen, is the second feature film of renowned director Wong Kar-wai. While his first movie explored the identity of British Hong Kong's underworld, this movie takes place in the early sixties and is set in Hong Kong as well as in the Philippines. The genre categorization is much simpler than in his first film as Days of Being Wild is a drama.

The same can't be said about the script. Several stories intertwine in this particular movie. The central character is smooth-talking playboy Yuddy who looks attractive but has a shallow character. He wants to meet his birth mother who lives in the Philippines but she refuses to even see him. This movie also explores the life of his best friend Zeb who has a heart of gold but ends up being underestimated as he can't compete with Yuddy's physical appearance. We also explore the life of Li-zhen who does a series of odd jobs and dreams of a successful mariage inspired her cousin but her potential relationships never materialize. The movie also introduces us to vivacious cabaret dancer Mimi who is judged by her beauty but longs for a serious long-term relationship. Lastly, we have lonesome policeman Tide who takes care of his sick mother and dreams of becoming a sailor. The element that all these characters have in common is that they are all chasing dreams to change their lives.

This movie convinces on several levels. First and foremost, the different characters are memorable, profound and unique. Most viewers might find one or several characters they can empathize with. The character I identified with most is helpful policeman Tide who values his family but finds the courage to organize changes in his life to make his biggest dream come true.

Another strong element of this film are the settings that bring the early sixties back to life. It's interesting to explore both the impoverished and luxurious elements of British Hong Kong and to explore the contrast of big city life and vast landscapes in the Philippines. The director has paid much attention to use appropriate cars, clothing and telephones that give this movie a most realistic vibe.

My favourite scenes from this movie are those that take place in the Philippines. The film quickens up the pace a little bit when cineasts discover locations such as a sinister hotel frequented by prostitutes, a gigantic mansion in the wilderness and an elegant train station filled with a set of dangerous criminals.

Days of Being Wild is however not without several flaws. This movie is best described as a slice-of-life with some stories that are truly interesting while others aren't explored in depth. For instance, Zeb's gentle character isn't fully developed to exploit its full potential.

Another significant issue is the low quality of the cinematography. The images in the opening sequence for instance look dark and lifeless. The film's remastered version looks slightly better but can't fully hide that significant flaw. A more luminous location and better camera equipment would have rated that slow opening sequence up.

At the end of the day, Days of Being Wild is recommended to fans of director Wong Kar-wai, people who are interested in life in Hong Kong and in the Philippines in the early sixties and cineasts who appreciate slow-paced personal dramas that need some patience to be fully appreciated.