"Cher" is a feature film directed by Tam Ka Ming and starring Chung Chu Hong, Leung Ka Fai, Chu Yuan and others, released in Hong Kong in 1984. The film tells the story of a dance teacher Xue'er's emotional entanglement between wealthy businessman Dai Jiale and young artist Ah Hua, and the story of her eventual abandonment of two men and choice of her own lifestyle.
The film is a typical Hong Kong New Wave film, showing their views on love and values from the perspective of modern urban women, reflecting the changes and conflicts in Hong Kong society at that time. Director Tam Jiaming shows his creative style and characteristics in this film, such as the use of color, the coordination of music and action, and the treatment of comedy and sacrificy.
However, the film is not deep and meticulous enough in plot design and character shaping, and some bridges and details are tacky and far-fetched, and do not convey a clear and powerful theme.
The main problem of the film lies in the motivation of the characters and the expression of feelings. Cher is a beautiful and intelligent woman who disdains the wealthy businessman Tai Jiale and loves the artist Ah Hua, and she dares to pursue the life she wants, unbound by tradition. However, the film does not delve into her inner world and growth process, but only shows her character and attitude through some external behaviors and events.
For example, Why did she fall in love with Ahua? What do they have in common or attractive? Why did she refuse Dai Jiale ? What are the contradictions or barriers between them? None of these questions are fully explained and expanded, leaving it to the viewer's imagination. This treatment makes it difficult for the audience to understand her true feelings and thoughts, and it is difficult to generate sympathy or appreciation.
Dai Jiale and Ah Hua are also two ambiguous characters, representing two different value orientations, money and art, respectively, but their personalities and motives are not clear and complex. Tai Ka Lok is a rich and conceited man who falls in love with Cher at first sight and spends money and tricks to pursue her, but he does not really know or respect her, and only treats her as an object or a challenge.
Ah Hua is a talented and free man, he and Xue'er have a similar artistic temperament and ideals, they love each other and live together. But he also had a selfish and vanity side, and he sold his artistic principles and emotional commitment for fame and fortune. Instead of bringing true happiness and satisfaction to Cher, these two men disappointed and saddened her.
The final ending of the film is also confusing, with Cher having a chaotic and absurd fight with Dai Jiale and Ah Hua on the beach after discovering that Ah Hua had betrayed her. In the end, Cher decided to leave the two men and drive away alone. This ending seems to be to express that Cher has completed her self-liberation, but the film does not give enough clues to support this view.
Where will Cher go after she leaves the two men? Does she have any other pursuits or goals? Can she still find love that truly belongs to her? None of these questions were explicitly answered, leaving it to the audience to guess. Such an ending is neither logical nor emotional.
In short, "Cher" is a film with a new wave shell but lacks a new wave connotation, it does not effectively use plot, characters, atmosphere and other elements to build a fascinating and meaningful story, but only relies on labels such as beauty, talent, and bravery to attract the audience's attention. It neither achieves the touching and moving effect that a feature film should have, nor does it convey any deep or valuable message. It can only be regarded as a banal and boring New Wave parody.