'As Tears Go By (1988)' is remarkably assured and, I suppose, fully-formed for a feature debut, displaying many elements which director Wong Kar-Wai would become known for later on in his career. Perhaps its only obviously unrefined element is its music, which - though satisfyingly atmospheric and periodic thanks to its heavy use of synths - is relatively haphazard in its placement and often overbearing in a slightly cheesy way. The picture focuses on a triad member whose attempts to leave his life of crime and live happily ever after in a romantic relationship with his cousin are constantly thwarted not by his lifestyle's unforgiving nature or the insistence of its authoritative members but by his desire to protect his reckless protégée from the life-endangering actions he constantly takes to prove himself. That's where the real tragedy of the piece lies and it's rather potent. The narrative plays out almost like that of a John Woo heroic bloodshed picture, with a focus on brotherhood and loyalty and the inherent risks associated with a criminal occupation. The difference, of course, is that this feature doesn't break its tension with lead-slinging, high-octane, brutally romanticised action; its moments of violence are fast-paced and impressionistic, unrelentingly brutal and more convinced with chaos than choreography. There's nothing romantic about the lives of its characters, nor the destruction they both inflict and have inflicted upon them. It avoids glamorising crime in any way shape or form, emerging as a truly tragic experience overall. Of course, it also has moments of melancholic beauty. The inevitable darkness of the story is made all the more biting by the genuine, visually distinct happiness provided by the brief moments of respite the hero finds with his enigmatically elegant and mundanely beautiful lover. The fact that the pair are related in some way does definitely dampen the success of their relationship, but it's undeniable that Wong's expert presentation of their dynamic is rousing and effective (it helps that the young Maggie Cheung is as alluring as ever). Ultimately, this is an entertaining and engaging experience throughout. It's also rather funny on occasion, despite being desperately sad overall. It's a brutal yet somewhat beautiful story of brotherhood, loyalty, love and longing.
Review of As Tears Go By
