Fallen Angels

“Watching dad cook in the kitchen, I feel very happy. Though I know I'll never taste his steaks again, I'll never forget how they tasted.” Today is my birthday and what better way to celebrate than to watch one of my personal favorite films, a film that means so much to me, a film that opened my eyes to the beauty of foreign cinema, and a film that has been with me through the good times, as well as the bad. Fallen Angels is perfect in my opinion. No other film can replicate the sheer number of emotions, the sheer amount of colors, the sheer volume of genres, and the sheer array of beautiful shots than this very movie. I will never get tired of this movie, for it is one of the most gorgeous things I have ever laid my very own eyes on. The cinematography is probably my favorite in any film ever. The way the camera moves, the way it frames shots, how it gets up close to people’s faces, the way it focuses on colors and neon lights and motorcycles and gun fights, I LOVE IT!! It’s almost as if the viewer is there, watching everything unfold right in front of them. And then we have the music, which perfectly complements the pure artistry of the visuals. This includes what very well might be my favorite soundtrack in any film ever, each and every song fits the scene it’s in so well and I just love hearing the sometimes chaotic and other times melancholy sounds of Wong’s world. What I love most about this movie, however, is the vast amount of emotions on full display. Takeshi Kaneshiro’s character goes around breaking into other people’s shops to not feel alone and to have a sense of belonging or responsibility. I love how when he talks about his father, he mentions how they are both quiet, which leads him to believe that maybe that is why they are close. Also, when his father dies, he looks back at the tapes of him in one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie. It’s such a happy, yet poignant scene that nearly brought me to tears. Ultimately, this movie is about loneliness, the ways in which we try to cope with loneliness, the effects of the modern age on loneliness, the loss of the people we love, and love in general. Leon Lai’s character is a killer and his partner, as he calls her, grew to have an emotional connection with him without ever meeting him face to face. I love how she sets things up for him and after he has spent his time there and leaves, she goes back to clean up, as well as take the time to go through his trash and make his bed (among other things in the bed), in order to feel closer to him. She also goes to the bar he likes and sits in his chair. I love how she can’t meet him because they are supposed to be strictly professionals doing business, but she is able to feel closer to him by committing small and simple acts. It’s poetic in a way, romantic if you will, yet heartbreaking. Song 1818 was the dagger in her heart when she heard it play at the bar. That is another scene that nearly brought me to tears. Anyway, this is a very sad movie at times, but don’t let that distract you from all of the hilarious moments. I love when Kaneshiro’s character talks about expired pineapples and when he keeps running into the same guy over and over again. I love when him and the girl who hates Blondie go around trying to find her and I love when the restaurant they are at erupts into a huge fight because somebody said they are Blondie. This is the most funny, yet sad movie I have ever seen. Overall, this is one of my favorites and I am super glad I watched it on my birthday. Cheers!!