Yong jiu ju liu

This film is about a successful young man who falls in love with a his best friend even he knows his love cannot be reciprocated.

"Permanent Residence" is a very well made film. I was pleasantly surprised throughout by the technical aspects, such as excellent scene composition, great lighting and cinematography. Scenes for "Permanent Residence" were shot in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Israel. For a niche film without promised returns, I am impressed that the director managed to secure a generous funding to finance this film.

Plot wise, "Permanent Residence" has a touching plot that deals with life, death, love, friendship and betrayal in a matter of two hours. The character development is excellent, and I feel for Ivan's pain for his love that is not reciprocated. I am angered by Windson's selfishness. I wonder whether he is just truly selfish and exploited Ivan financially, or he is closeted and decided to follow the social expectations.

Being a niche film, "Permanent Residence" also shatters taboos by incorporating funeral scenes. I commend the filmmakers for their courage in making a non-mainstream film, especially in Hong Kong where such films are marginalised into oblivion.

"Permanent Residence" is a film to feel and savour. I hope there will be more Hong Kong films like "Permanent Residence".

While there is a deep and really relatable vibe in this movie about how we are born and live, only to die. There is nothing permanent in this existence. But..

What I see is that love surpasses all realms of theory of existentialism, only true souls know they belong to each other and still live in the barbaric human society with rules that no one understands. This movie is so much in tune with my thoughts of looking for permanency, and being gay.

When I see, Sean Li playing Ivan, it just felt like a whole documentary of a person's life looking into each aspect of a person from childhood to his death, the spread of life seen, rather seen too closely of Ivan and Windson, so up close and personal. Though Ivan sees a grim life, he brings in the essence of love, be it his grandmother or Windson. Love wins!!

I loved all aspects of this romantic saga and yet felt ok to shed a few tears in the end. Isn't live all about just as in this film??

Ok next on to An fei ta ming...