[VIFF 2020] REVIEW: 'My Prince Edward' is no fairy tale, but it's still a good one
Chu Pak-hong and Stephy Tang in My Prince Edward, written and directed by Norris Wong.
What better way to showcase the claustrophobia of an unwanted marriage than in one of the densest cities in the world? The aptly titled My Prince Edward follows the breakdown of a seven-year relationship between a couple who work and live in a wedding-theme shopping mall in Prince Edward. Written and directed by Norris Wong, the film keenly focuses on its two subjects, who we quickly found out aren’t a good fit for another but due to societal norms and pressures, try to take the next step in their relationship anyway.
Edward (Chu Pak-hong) is a wedding photographer who’s in long-term relationship with Fong (Stephy Tang), who works in a bridal gown shop. They live together and rent a space above the mall, and when Edward’s mother begins making plans to buy the place, Edwards takes this as a sign to make the next move: marriage. While it seems like the logical next step in their lone and somewhat stale relationship, Fong is reluctant and fearful Edward will find out her secret; a decade ago, after a falling out with her parents, Fong entered a sham marriage in exchange for money, but a divorce never materialized.
The stigma against divorcees – never mind divorcees from a sham marriage – is particularly strong in Asia, especially for couples who cannot hide their shame behind expensive homes and fancy handbags. Fong tracks down her sham husband, Yang Shuwei (Jin Kai-jie), and agrees to help him obtain a One-way permit in order to secure a divorce before she marries Edward. These events force Fong to re-examine her own motivations in marrying Edward, and her decision ends up having major repercussions.
In a city where condos that are no bigger than broom closets cost millions, Hong Kong is a very effective setting to explore the restrictions that are placed upon us. It’s clear that Fong is unhappy with Edward, and Edward is similarly unmotivated in making any changes to their lives, but there’s little recourse either way because they have little financial and political means to drastically change their futures. Rather than watching the characters meander around the streets of Hong Kong, Edward and Fong’s cramped apartment forces them to confront their problems.
Feeling the pressure to marry before a certain “expiration date” and all the hullabaloo that comes with planning a wedding is not a new theme. It’s almost tiresome, in part because LGBT films have become more prominent and they examine our expectations of marriage and life-long partnerships through a different lens. But the material can be elevated in the right hands, and credit to Wong and his keen eye for symbolism, from using the analogy of moving a turtle from a tank in a pet store to a tank in Fong’s apartment, and also to the actors for their strong and nuanced performances.
My Prince Edward gets three stars out of four.
