CITIES OF LAST THINGS—the fifth feature by director Ho Wi Ding—follows a haunted police detective through a reverse-narrative spiral. Reminiscent of the gorgeous neon-and-noir dreamscapes cinematographer Christopher Doyle created for Wong Kar-Wai, the Taipei triptych opens with a suicide in the year 2056, then works its way back to 2019 and the 1990s.
Jack Kao (61 years old), Lee Hong Chi (29), and young Hsieh Chang Ying play Zhang Dong Ling over the course of three crucial nights in the character’s life. The film was shot in 35mm for a wonderfully grainy sheen—Jean Louis Vialard was the director of photography. This award-winning Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival selection screens Monday night in Los Angeles.
Monday, May 6, at 6:30 pm.
Regal L.A. Live Cinemas
1000 West Olympic Avenue, downtown Los Angeles.
From top: Louise Grinberg and Lee Hong Chi in Cities of Last Things; Jack Kao; Ding Ning (center right); Lee (right); Grinberg. Images courtesy the filmmaker and LAAPFF.
