Film Review: Hong Kong, Within Me by Kang Yoon-sung

“This is too real. What kind of dream is this?

“Hong Kong in the Lens by Asian Directors” is a program supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, which includes a series of microfilms directed by renowned directors from Asia. “Hong Kong, Within Me” is one of those titles, directed by Kang Yoon-sung, whose credits include the four entries in “The Roundup” series.

The movie begins with a Korean woman in her pajamas descending the stairs in her house while counting backwards. When she reaches one, however, she wakes up and she seems to be in a place she does not recognize, which soon is revealed to be Hong Kong. Still in her pajamas and barefooted, she goes outside first asking two young women to loan her their phone, and then taking up a cab, of an expectedly suspicious driver. She eventually reaches her destination, where a man recognizes here as Hye-rim and she him as Chan-sung. It turns out he is an old acquaintance, although the surprise of her being there is mutual. As they are talking, she reveals that she has insomnia issues, and that she received hypnotherapy treatment. At the same time, she seems to think what she is experiencing is her dream.

Nevertheless, Chan-sung, who is the owner and cook in the specialty restaurant the two are in, prepares her a meal in order to hear her opinion. A bit later on, the whole thing takes an even weirder twist, as it seems the interaction of the two is being shot by a film crew and Chan-sung is actually an actor. A swooshing cut through night time Hong Kong brings the two in a pier, where they talk once more about whether this is a dream or a movie shoot. Or even a Groundhog Day situation.

The first thing one will notice in “Hong Kong, Within Me” is that the pace is frantic, which is actually what allows Kang Yoon-sung to shoot a meta, romantic movie which also includes a ‘will-they-won’t-they’ element and much comedy, in just 15 minutes. The result can be dizzying on occasion, one could say mirroring the rhythm of life in Hong Kong, but is definitely entertaining, with the quality of the production values definitely helping in that regard.

Kwon Hyeok-jun’s cinematography in particular, captures the different setting with a polished gusto that is quite pleasant to the eye. Furthermore, Hoo Sun-mi and Park Jong-min’s editing is responsible for the aforementioned frantic pace, in a style where the cuts are actually part of the narrative.

Woo Hye-rim plays Hye-rim with an excessiveness that goes a bit too far on occasion, but actually works in the economy of the short. Kang Yun-Sung as Chan-sung plays his part in more down-to-earth fashion, with the antithesis creating a very appealing chemistry.

“Hong Kong, Within Me” is well shot, well acted, well directed, looks particularly good, and is also a lesson on how to condense movies into the short format. Definitely a joy to watch.