For Your Heart Only
Though this 1985 Cinema City offering has all
the initial earmarks of a typical teenage romantic comedy, it eventually
takes on a surprising dramatic resonance that was fairly effective and
adult in nature. There are also a number of very solid acting performances
from some now well known stars, but done here when they were still fairly
young, and one from an actor much better known for his stunt and action
skills.
A young and pouty Leslie Cheung appears almost
to be in training for his Yuddy role in Days of Being Wild. Charming, selfish
and narcissistic, he plays with women like most of us do with spare change
in our pocket. He moves into his friends low rent tenement apartment along
with his other friend Meng Hoi. One of the small pleasures of this film
is the lack of glamorizing the living conditions of the characters – every
one is stuck taking buses, being low on funds and living in small cramped
spaces. Another nice bit is that though the young characters are going
through the process of growing up and becoming independent, their parents
still play an important role in their lives.
One morning Loletta Lee – wearing a very fetching
nightie – gets locked out of her apartment in the hallway. She is staying
with her friend Bonnie Law and both are nurses at a nearby hospital. Of
course, she bumps into Leslie who immediately puts her in the firing range
of his pretty boy sleepy-eyed charm and sweet Loletta is clearly no match
for his romantic come ons. On the morning after, Leslie brushes her off
like leftover cake crumbs and the look of pain and sadness that fills Loletta’s
face is heart rendering.
Meng Hoi meanwhile develops a crush on Leslie’s
sister, Ann Bridgewater, but Leslie doesn’t want anyone messing around
with his innocent sister. Ann looks stunning in this smallish part – like
a leggy colt unsure of herself – and Meng Hoi gives a very appealing performance
as a sensitive guy falling in love with Ann, but not wanting to offend
his friend. He soon learns though that he may be dying from a kidney disease
and this possibility leads to some emotional resolutions.
The film has some good touch points, small scenes
or moments that feel real and have an emotional impact – Bonnie giving
Leslie hell for taking advantage of her friend, Loletta surprisingly being
hugged by her mother rather than scolded, Meng Hoi facing his mortality
square in the face.
For those who track the career of Loletta Lee
– and her short foray into Cat III films – this is an intriguing missing
piece to the puzzle. In most of her early work for Cinema City and then
her later family comedies with D&B Loletta was the very picture of
impish virginal innocence. Here though in this fairly early film in her
career, Loletta has a few fairly racy scenes – one that involves water
and no brassiere – and it gives hints of things to come!
My rating for this film: 6.0