Confessions of Pain (2006)

Hits you at the most painful place - your heart

Most of us will probably understand the pain of a paper cut or a swollen ankle. Physical pain aside, not many of us can understand the pain of losing someone dear. It is a feeling that is hard to describe and fathom. Confessions of Pain is one such movie that tries to infuse a world of pain and heartbreak into our world of bland cinematic emotions.

At the background is a gloomy portrait of Hong Kong. Permanently cast in gray skies, the Hong Kong landscape seems to be an additional character to the already impressive cast. The endless rain and the dark clouds surrounding the Hong Kong skyline make this character 'speaks' volume.

It somehow provides an eerie feeling of irony to the film.

The 2 leads, Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro provide more despair to the mourning city. Leung is a cop that is haunted by his past. It is a pleasure to see how Leung acts. His tormented soul last seen in Infernal Affairs is back, albeit it is a more suppressed one here. Gone is his unshaven and rugged demeanour. His unkempt hair is neatly gelled back, and his latest accessory, his tinted spectacles, makes us view him in a different light. Notice how the spectacles provides an additional dimension to his character; a very unnerving one.

On the other hand, Kaneshiro portrayal is a more forthright character. It appears that Kaneshiro has taken on Leung's character in Infernal Affairs; unshaven and desolate.The death of his girlfriend brings him to his knees and subsequently, he loses himself into a world of alcohol. If Leung's character is being viewed as a tormented one, then Kaneshiro's one must be a godforsaken one.

Xu Jing Lei and Shu Qi act as the pillars of strength for Leung and Kaneshiro respectively. Both of them inspires to lift the gloom out of the 2 male protagonists, Xu as Leung's wife and Shu as the bubbly girlfriend of Kaneshiro. They provide a much needed respite for the movie.

While the script is more or less predictable, what makes this film worth the weekend price ticket is the exception directing of the movie. Both directors (Andrew Lau and Alan Mak) successfully paint a sad and moving story rather than an action thriller. Lau's trademark camera angles are prominent in the movie. Again, they adapt a Buddhist kind of story telling and morals. Not forgetting its superb soundtrack too. A disturbing tale of sorrow and pain.

I can feel it. Hope it haunts you too.

4
txq