Some thoughts after watching vcd 'sparrow'文雀

A film by Johnnie To
The movie starts with the question: `Who is the boss? (a challenge to the power distribution). After individual struggle to assert/desire 'the boss/leader' position, they finally find the answer. And the ending of the movie re-defines 'power' itself.

Individuality melt in collective
individual vs individual (breaking down of collective)
individual vs collective
collective vs collective
Back to collective after re-establishing individuality

The nostaglia appearance of the movie reflects how individual looks at themselves through the 'collective'. The character 'jenny' allows the male characters projecting their personal desires. Each of the male characters sees jenny differently but they do not know Jenny. Jenny is never alone. What they see through Jenny is actually who they are.

There lies the beauty of collective memory. We may have different feelings/projections towards Star Ferry Pier, Queen's Pier and all other buildings but through cinema, we once again share, identify and become the collective.

It is a movie that has a romantic spirit. In the narrative of nostaglia, thre is sth macho. The other, the outsider, the one who needs help is the one who represents desire. Remember those shots - camera, lipsticks, trench coat, high heels, balloons.... Desire is sth you could not trap/tame. It is in you but it is not easy to control. The old trick of femme fatale?!

Don't worry. Men, at least, still have 'brothers'. Leader is the leader not because of his skills but because he thinks for the good of his brothers........