Lost Indulgence

Lost Indulgence, directed by the revered Yibai Zhang, is a 2008 Chinese movie that adeptly blends drama and elements of fantasy, exploring the complex themes of love, guilt, and forgiveness. Starring Karen Mok, Wenli Jiang, and Eason Chan, the movie presents a poignant and deeply affecting narrative that certainly leaves an impression on its audience.

Set against the vibrant, bustling streets of urban China, Lost Indulgence revolves around the intricately woven narrative of two grieving families connected by an unforeseeable tragedy. Following the unforeseen death of their father, a taxi driver, in a car accident, siblings Xu Fai (Eason Chan) and Xu Mo (Xiaoran Li) are left distraught and tethered by their shared loss. An aspiring ballet dancer, Xu Mo, immobilized by the emotional trauma, loses hope for her future. At the same time, Xu Fai takes up a job in a massage parlor to support his family.

Simultaneously, the narrative focuses on Suizi (Karen Mok), the woman who survives the car crash that killed Xu Mo and Xu Fai's father. She's a bar hostess and dancer accompanied by a mysterious and mostly mute bartender (Guo Tao). Suizi, whose injuries from the accident have left her confined to a wheelchair, is racked with guilt over the death of the siblings' father, feeling responsible for the accident that led to his demise.

In a storyline rife with intersecting narratives, the scene shifts when Suizi decides to move in with the siblings to compensate for their father's loss. This aspect of the plot delicately explores the themes of friendship, dealing with guilt, and discovering an unexpected sense of familial bond.

As the movie progresses, the siblings, their mother, and Suizi form an unlikely family unit. It's a mesh of tentative relationships evolving into a familial bond that delivers a warm sense of healing and hope. The shared grief creates a foundation for the characters to lean on each other, understand one another, and gradually start to heal from their trauma.

It's worth mentioning that Lost Indulgence is not a conventional drama but a meditative exploration of sorrow, guilt, and redemption, topped with a spark of magical realism. The movie masterfully transitions between present events and dreamlike sequences, creating a poetic atmosphere that veers on the edge of an ethereal dreamscape at certain moments.

Karen Mok's performance as Suizi is said to be a highlight of the film, with the actress excelling at portraying a woman burdened with guilt, trying to correct a wrong that can never truly be righted. Eason Chan, who plays Xu Fai, is also praiseworthy in his role, effectively capturing the bottled-up frustrations, melancholy, and quiet determination of a young man attempting to navigate his life amidst the upheaval.

Furthermore, the movie sets itself apart from most contemporary Chinese cinema by taking a bolder, more experimental approach, particularly in its storytelling style. The brilliantly vibrant cinematography, palpable emotional depth, and surreal elements coalesce to create a unique cinematic experience that stays with you long after the movie ends.

If characters experiencing and grappling with the stages of grief, the exploration of unlikely relationships, and a beautiful narrative with a touch of magical realism are what attract you to a movie, then Lost Indulgence is a must-watch. It delivers an emotionally charged atmospheric story with spellbinding performances. Drenched in melancholy and simultaneously buoyed by optimism, this film beautifully captures the resilience of human spirits and their capacity for forgiveness and acceptance.