Asian Film Festival of Dallas 2010

• 

“Did someone report a murder?”

A man murders his wife, two small daughters, and then attempts suicide.  On the news, a police spokesman says the wife never complained about her husband previously, but a group of women watching the news are distraught; they know better. NIGHT & FOG begins with the aftermath of a horrific crime that ends a troubled relationship.  But the downward spiral that came before it, and the broken government protection services that failed to prevent the crime, make up the story that follows.

Mr. Lee (Simon Yam) is unemployed, making ends barely meet by staying on a welfare system that would decrease his payout if it were discovered his immigrant wife Hiu-ling (Zhang Jingchu) had a job waitressing at a small cafe.  Lee is also quick to anger, and when threatened by the smallest gesture Hiu-ling makes, capable of violence.  It isn’t long before a counselor recommends she stay at a battered women’s shelter until the two can reconcile their differences.  Everyone around them can see what’s happening, but most of the authorities Hiu-ling speaks with are either laughably ineffective or worse, don’t take her seriously.

As the film progresses, there are flashbacks to when Lee and Hui-ling met, and the disintegration of Lee from gentle, pleasant man to the grizzled monster he becomes is gradual and terrifying.  NIGHT & FOG begins as a deceptive, sickly domestic abuse drama, but ends up providing some disturbing moments that feel closer to outright horror.

Director

Ann Hui

Cast

Simon Yam, Zhang Jingchu

Country

Hong Kong

Language

Cantonese, English Subtitles, Mandarin

Alternate Titles

天水圍的夜與霧

Release Date

2009

Runtime

122 minutes

Exhibition Format

35mm