Triangle (Tie Saam Gok), 2008, Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, Johnny To

Sharon Chung’s screen play “Triangle” (Tie Saam Gok) provides a unique collaboration among three of China’s top acclaimed Directors. Film makers Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, and Johnny To are each bequeathed a half hour rendition of the film through their own perception. For artistically obvious reasons, this creates a “3 films in 1” picture that is evident in differences and narratives that contradict a coherent story. Although this production ideal risks coherence, it gives a playful flirtation with multiple genres. This possibly adds much disorientation to the average audience exposed to a more American formalistic film. However radical contrast such as this can be well enjoyed on a mere “don’t think, just watch basis”, a viewer can also gain exposure to Chinese cinema in all it’s variety.

Everything from a neo-noir (as presented by Tsui Hark), to an Asian form of high paced action (by Ringo Lam), to a surrealistic dark comedy (created by Jhonny To) is viewed. This gives way to a variety of cinematic elements such as a subtle change in lighting and editing practices.

Following three protagonist, played by actors Louis Koo, Simon Yam, and Sun Hong, “Triangle” follows a swift story of a heist that will test and try the character’s unity as well as their own complicated inner motive. The theme of a triangle is constantly emphasised as the viewer is exposed to three friends, a love triangle, three directors, three narrative transitions, and so on. As priority changes amongst each character over the progression of the film, so does the obtuse story. A theme of what was once desired, is now a plague seems to be all that weakly bonds the characters to one another. As inner motivations of each character evolves, so does the emotion of the picture.

Fast action, sexual implication, betrayal and drug humor keeps the film drawing. Although the viewer could potentially be left quite dazed and slightly confused, if one has never experienced Chinese cinema, “Triangle” is a unique opportunity to absorb a visual sampling of some of it’s most well accepted film forms.