Cities of Last Things

Cities of Last Things is a stirring 2018 dystopian noir that is not so much a journey into darkness as it is an exploration of life's subtleties underlined by its inherent fragility and transience. The film features performances by Jack Kao, Hong-Chi Lee, and Louise Grinberg as they navigate through a story that holds its root in symbolism and potent melancholy.

The director, Wi Ding Ho, sets this brain-teasing film in a fusion of near-future urban sci-fi and hardboiled film noir that playfully meddles with our perception of time. It's a movie with a lot on its mind and isn't afraid to experiment with form and style to get its point across. This film weaves an intricately choreographed dance of life, love, and despair packed with emotionally charged moments that stay long after viewing.

The narrative backbone of the film is structured as an unconventional triptych. At first glance, it would appear as a reversed chronological order, which on its own already offers a unique experience. It starts in the future and works its way back to the past, unwinding the life of the primary character in reverse order.

The movie first introduces us to Zhang Dong Ling (Jack Kao), a retired police officer who happens to have an affection for stealing, a crippling drinking problem, and a suicidal temperament. His is a lonely existence, surrounded but unseen in an urban landscape that provides both cover and alienation in the anonymity it offers.

We next see the events that shaped his adulthood, this time played by Hong-Chi Lee. In this segment, we see a far different man than the one we met at first. This was a man, still in uniform - honest, loyal yet underappreciated, raw and vulnerable. Rendered in remarkable layers, this second act reveals the deep-seated corruption tantamount with his duties as a police officer and discusses the vexed relationship with his family.

The last segment of the film then travels further back, presenting Zhang Dong Ling as a rebellious teenager. His strained relationships, romantic entanglements, and brushes with the law are depicted in a poignant and convincing manner that adds depth and context to the character.

Co-star Louise Grinberg shines as Ara, a central character to the plot who provides layers to the narrative and features across timelines. French by nationality, a drug dealer by profession, Ara’s entwined narratives with Dong Ling adds to the emotional heft of the plot.

The overarching theme of the film centers on the idea of repetition and circularity— of actions having consequences, of history repeating itself, and the ultimate struggle against fate. As it works backward, the audience is prompted to connect the dots as they outline a painstaking account of lives lived in quiet desperation. The narrative chooses to showcase, rather than tell, laying out snapshots of one man's life and leaving the viewers to delve deeper into his psyche.

Technically speaking, the film is a marvel with its unique narrative structure, rich cinematography, and crafting of unfolding suspense amidst the dark subtexts of morality and despair. The director has made sure that there are ample moments that breathe, allowing viewers to marinate in the realities and desperations of its characters. Notably, the film's backdrop, a city drenched in neon, is as much a character in the movie as any of its actors, keeping the viewers intrigued and invested.

However, for all its brilliance, the Cities of Last Things isn't a breezy watch. It demands your undivided attention and investment as it peels away layer after layer, unfurling the character's life. It is a challenging study of urban life, alienation, and the myriad forms of oppression that can smother the human spirit.

In summary, Cities of Last Things is an intelligent film with a narrative that challenges conventional storytelling. It offers a canvas of futuristic gloom and poignant past, peppered with human interactions, regrets, and redemption. Arguably, it's a movie that makes viewers work but rewards them with a tantalising tapestry of human condition and perseverance.