THE LAST DANCE (破.�狱) (2024)

Genre: Drama
Director: Chan Mou Yin, Anselm
Cast: Dayo Wong, Michael Hui, Michelle Wai, Catherine Chau, Tommy Chu, Paul Chun, Elaine Jin, Rosa Maria Velasco, Rachel Leung, Michael Ning, Chung Suet Ying
Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins
Rating: NC16 (Sexual Scene and Some Mature Content)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 28 November 2024

Synopsis: Despite the pandemic sending most industries into recession, debt-ridden wedding planner Dominic (Dayo WONG) gets a miraculous chance to turn things around when a funeral planner retires and passes the baton to him. His creative gimmicks for funerals help his business find unexpected success, but Dominic’s biggest obstacle is winning the approval of respected and sternly traditional Taoist priest, Master Man (Michael HUI).

Movie Review: 

This Hong Kong drama has broken the local single day box office record, and it is not difficult to understand why. While the movie title refers to a common ritual in Hong Kong funerals where a Taoist priest frees souls of the dead and help them reincarnate, the film actually tells a universal story about family bonds that speaks to audiences, and that’s probably why people are heading to the theatres to watch something they can relate to.

Directed by Anselm Chan, the movie earned HKD 6 million on its opening day, breaking the record for the highest opening day gross for any Hong Kong movie. Thanks to rave reviews and word of mouth, the box office is expected to soar even higher.

And the movie is worthy of the hype, also largely because of its two leading men Dayo Wong and Michael Hui. Known also for their comedy roles, Wong and Hui are playing more serious characters in this drama.

Wong, who made a mark with A Guilty Conscience last year with its HKD 115 million box office earnings, continues his streak here by taking on the role of a man who switches from being a wedding planner to a funeral planner. Hui, who was recently crowned Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Hong Kong Film Awards for his performance in Philip Yung’s Where the Wind Blows, is going to wow critics with his portrayal as a stubborn Taoist priest.

The two men’s paths cross when Dominic (Wong) becomes a partner in the funeral business and has to manage the expectations of Master Man (Hui), who is a firm believer that traditions shouldn’t be compromised. For example, he frowns upon the possibility of females performing funeral rituals because menstruation makes them unclean. This is something we may joke about in real life, but there are probably old timers who refuse to adjust their beliefs.

Things get interesting when Dominic’s modern approach of event planning clashes with Master Man’s traditional way of handling more delicate matters. It is also an opportunity for the screenplay to feature individual stories which bring different emotions to the viewers. There is a mourning mother (Rosa Maria Velasco) who wants to mummify her dead son, with the hope that advancements in technology may bring the child back to life. There is also a husband (Michael Ning) who prioritises his business over making the arrangements for his deceased wife, while the dead woman’s female soulmate (Rachel Leung) is desperately yearning for closure. These stories, some of which are inspired by real life incidents, will easily move you.

What’s also especially poignant are Dominic and Master Man’s stories. Dominic is a man who isn’t ready to commit to a family unit with kids, which affects his relationship with his girlfriend (Catherine Chau). Elsewhere, there is growing tension in Master Man’s family as his son (Tommy Chu) and daughter (Michelle Wai) face problems at home and outside the seemingly cosy unit they stay in.

As the 126 minute movie progresses, it successfully tugs at your heartstrings and makes you think about the things about your family that you hold dearest to your heart.

Movie Rating:

(Boasting compelling performances from Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, this poignant drama invites you to reflect on the value of family and what truly matters in life)

Review by John Li