Vital Sign is a tribute to ambulancemen and love letter to Hong Kong (Film review)

  

Various cast (and crew (including director Cheuk Wan-chi on 

the far right) at the world premiere of Vital Sign

Vital Sign (Hong Kong, 2023)

- Cheuk Wan-chi (aka GC Goo Bi), director

- Starring: Louis Koo, Neo Yau Hok-sau, Angela Yuen

- Part of the Hong Kong International Film Festival's Galas program 

 

A few years back, I got into an argument with an expatriate who's lived in Hong Kong for a number of years and thought he knew a lot about Hong Kong but showed his ignorance of the local cinema by proclaiming that all Hong Kong films were about cops or Triads.  Worse, after I reeled of a bunch of titles of Hong Kong movies that weren't crime dramas (including some martial arts epics!), he then admitted that he hadn't seen (m)any cinematic offerings from this part of the world at all even while still maintaining that his point was a largely correct one!  

I saw this man again a few months ago at a dinner party hosted by mutual friends which, fortunately, was large enough that we could avoid talking much to one another.  Otherwise, I would have been unable to resist pointing out to him that, especially in the past three years, there have been a bunch of Hong Kong films that most definitely don't have cop or Triad protagonists!  In fact, for every movie like Detective vs Sleuths, I'd say that there have been 10 other films whose lead characters have had neither been police officers or gangsters but, instead, say, IT guys (Far Far Away), foster parents (Lost Love) or Paralympic athletes (From Zero to Hero)!

 

And although they are from the uniformed services, in Cheuk Wan-chi's Vital Sign, the protagonists are ambulancemen.  Leading man Louis Koo plays a veteran frontliner who makes light of his abilities but actually is seriously committed to saving lives.  He also is a widower with a young daughter who he clearly loves and cares for very much -- and is considering emigrating to Canada, where his parents-in-law already reside, in order for her to have a better future.

 

In contrast, "Wong Sir" (portrayed by Neo Yau Hok-sau) does not seem to have any plans beyond speedily climbing up the professional ladder. Though at least a decade younger than Louis Koo's character, he already holds the same rank as him.  After being assigned to the same team as the older man though, "Wong Sir" comes to realise though that he has much to learn from his senior -- about work but also maybe also life itself.

 

Vital Sign has a number of impressive scenes of the ambulancemen (who also include the ambulance driver played by character actor Poon Chan-leung) in action but it also makes room for domestic scenes that gives its characters added dimension and complexity.  By themselves, the sections in the movie in which Louis Koo interacts with the child actress who plays his daughter are very watchable.  They also are integral to this drama's other subplot: one involving Hong Kongers faced with the pressing question of whether to go or stay. (A reminder: "Hong Kong's second Handover" has prompted a considerable emigration wave out of the city.)

 

Initially, Angela Yuen's character (whose name is Miffy, like that of the famous rabbit character!) appears to be in the film for comic relief.  But her presence ends up helping to give Vital Sign an added emotional dimension and her views provide balance for as well as counterpoints to that of its two male principals plus further food for thought.  

 

Further emotional power comes by way of the choice of song to play over a key scene in that which was the official Closing Film of the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival. Sally Yeh's 珍重 (Take Care) may not be a contemporary work (and, in fact, dates back to 1990) but its lyrics feel very relevant to 2023 Hong Kong, and this movie that works as bittersweet love letter to this city and its people.

My rating for this film: 7.5