After seeing Li Xiaofeng's Ash and being highly impressed by what it had to offer, I was anxious to watch Back to the Wharf, Li's latest attempt at modern noir. Well, I'm happy to say that my expectations were met, even surpassed in some respects.
The film begins with Song Hao, a promising high school student, being cheated out of direct admission to college that was practically guaranteed due to his status as a top-of-the-class pupil. He finds out that it was instead given to his schoolmate and friend Li Tang, who also happens to be the son of a local mayor. A tragic event ensues and Song is forced to escape his hometown, only returning 15 years later after the death of his mom. What happens next constitutes the film's main plot and is for the viewer to discover.
First and foremost, this is a slow-burn blend of drama and noir not unlike Ash in the way it handles certain elements. Both films are moody, ambiguous and focus on morally conflicted protagonists trying to come to terms with past mistakes. However they're different beasts in terms of storytelling and plot structure. Whereas Ash was a mystery thriller presented as an abstract puzzle, Back to the Wharf is relatively straightforward and more accessible for mainstream audiences. I was very surprised by how fast time zipped by while I was watching it! Not very common for a film that can't be called fast paced in any way, but I guess that's just more testament to its quality. It's certainly well written and performed along with being truly remarkable in its technical aspects.
Oh yes, now this is a great looking film. Seaside vistas and rain-slicked streets are name of the game here. Fluid camerawork and vivid colors often make it a feast for the eyes. In my review of Ash I mentioned it being quite beautiful to look at and it's nice that Wharf keeps up with those high standards. The splendid jazzy soundtrack follows suit, even if it can be overbearing in a few instances.
To keep things short, do yourself a favor if you love modern noir and watch this. It's moody, bleak stuff that joins the ever-growing group of quality genre cinema from mainland China.
