A group of teenagers trembles in a collapsed tenement. Nearby, a double-decker bus teeters over a serene bay. An uncoordinated middle-aged couple meanders through busy streets, wrapped up in their own world. Nick Cheung’s latest film, his fourth, presents a torrent of dreamlike images. It explores the chaos and emotional turmoil that erupted after the 2008 financial crisis. “Other people’s money!” one investor exclaims amidst the crowd, yet the real focus here seems to be on someone else’s aspirations.
Dr. Ruth Cannon’s psychiatrist, played by Terranslau, faces criticism from his superior for delving into his patient’s life. A peculiar case adds to his responsibilities, yet it’s his own unsettling dreams that drive him to intrude. As a taxi driver swerves into oncoming traffic before arriving at the hospital, Choi (Nick Chung) finds himself suspended between reality and fantasy. Dr. Mann continues to uncover deeper disturbances within the man’s home, where his wife Fiona (Farachen) obsessively follows financial updates.
A seasoned figure in Hong Kong cinema, Johnny takes on smaller roles, while Chen draws from his mentor’s cinematic flair, weaving subtle visuals into the narrative. His disorienting landscapes echo another great director’s style. Initially, he pieces together fragmented visions that connect Che, Fiona, and a former psychiatrist (Andyrau Cameo), who claims to navigate the dreams of others. Absurdity reigns in this urban landscape, surfacing in both the darker recesses of the mind and the stock market.
The film’s narrative shifts towards darkness, focusing on Dr. Shrink-Cum-Gumshoe’s quirky investigative antics in Man Man, softening the movie’s dreamlike pulse. Though Cheung is undeniably a stylistic filmmaker, he doesn’t delve deeply enough into any one character, which is especially noticeable in the troubled romance between Che and Fiona. The classic Broadway standard “Peg O’ My Heart” is referenced here. Instead of presenting a coherent emotional core, Chan somewhat ambiguously juxtaposes personal beliefs with the search for emotional authenticity, creating a complex tapestry of feelings.
