Dir. Midi Z. Taiwan, Malaysia, Myanmar. 2019, 103 mins. In Mandarin with English subtitles. With Wu Ke-Xi, Sung Yu-Hua, Hsia Yu-Chiao, Shih Ming-Shuai.
After eight years spent toiling in bit parts, aspiring actress Nina Wu finally lands a leading role in a spy thriller set in the 1960s. The shoot is challenging—explicit sex scenes, an impatient and insensitive director—but the film proves to be a professional and critical breakthrough. Nevertheless, Nina’s psychological resolve begins to crack. In light of two family crises, she rushes back to her family home, where she dreams of rekindling a close relationship with her childhood friend Kiki, while suffering from visions of a mysterious woman stalking and attacking her. As Nina clings to memories of happier times, she also seems to be repressing a crucial memory.
NINA WU was a New York Times Critic's Pick on March 25. To read the review: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/25/movies/nina-wu-review.html.
Photo courtesy of Film Movement