[Review] 52Hz, I Love You: Please Keep Believing in Love
This Lunar New Year, La La Land was widely acclaimed and became the talk of the town. Actually, this week also saw the release of another very worthwhile romantic musical, 52Hz, I Love You, but the competition during the same period seems too intense, preventing this film from gaining significant momentum.
Compared to La La Land, 52Hz, I Love You focuses more intently on the element of love, without spending too much time on dreams. The film's protagonists are two couples, each facing their own romantic challenges: pastry chef Ang (Lin Zhong-yu) secretly loves his friend Lei (Mify Chen), but Lei Lei already has a boyfriend of nearly ten years, Da-he (Suming). After almost ten years of dating, Da-he has been pursuing his musical dreams, and thus has been unable to provide Lei with a happy, stable life, causing Lei to feel their affection fading and contemplate breaking up. Additionally, Xin (Zhuang Juan-ying), already in her thirties, begins to worry that she will never find a partner in her lifetime.
Secret love, fading affection, not finding the right person... these are common romantic troubles that many people encounter. 52Hz, I Love You uses the stories of its four protagonists to convey an important message: please keep believing in love. Compared to the two male characters, the film spends more time exploring the psychological and emotional changes of the two female characters. For many women, age is often the biggest enemy in love. On the path of growth, we constantly set deadlines for ourselves: graduating from high school, graduating from university, twenty-five, thirty... and constantly tell ourselves that we must find a partner before these deadlines. However, whenever we pass a deadline, or experience a breakup or heartbreak, we doubt whether we will ever find someone who loves us in our lifetime. In the film, Xiao Xin is already in her thirties and hasn't found a partner. She is very afraid: will she, a "leftover woman," be lonely for life? Fortunately, she, originally an outsider in the film, coincidentally meets Xiao An and embarks on an unexpected journey.
On the other hand, although Lei has been with her boyfriend Da-he for almost ten years, she finds herself very unhappy. In the course of a relationship, after couples pass the sweet, passionate phase, they might discover that the love and life they seek do not match reality, and they might also feel that their partner isn't ambitious enough, unable to provide a stable, happy life. In the film, Lei witnesses another couple's sweetness, contrasting it with her own fading relationship. She feels she has wasted ten years on Da-he and doesn't want to waste any more youth. In the film, both female protagonists reach a point of decision, believing they are ultimately fated to be without love. However, at this point, the plot shifts, bringing many surprises to them and the audience. Honestly, I was quite surprised by Lei's ending, but undeniably, the director and screenwriters' handling truly conveys their message: please keep believing in love. After watching this film, I believe audiences will feel a very sweet, hopeful, and romantic urge.
The four protagonists in the film are all lead singers from four different bands, not professional actors, but Mify Chen's performance is very moving, which greatly surprised me. As for Suming, who plays Da-he, I found his expressions rather stiff and monotonous, but for portraying a simple, honest character, his performance is acceptable. The most surprising "actor," of course, is Ko Wen-je, playing himself. As a mayor, he was willing to participate in this film and had a few lines, fully showcasing his unique and approachable side.
Compared to La La Land, 52Hz, I Love You's musical segments are smaller in scale, and the camera work is relatively simpler. However, several scenes are very well shot and left a deep impression on me. Among them, the scene where Lei rides a motorcycle while singing her heart out, with a group of people on motorcycles chasing her from behind, is exceptionally well-staged. The crowd's pursuit and Lei's close-up not only express her troubled emotions, but the use of motorcycles also highlights Taiwan's unique character. Additionally, scenes like those outside the flower shop and guitar shop are clearly constructed sets, looking a bit unreal and theatrical, which effectively enhances the film's artistic effect and style. Moreover, in the scenes where Xin and Ang collide and deliver flowers, the director's treatment is even more exaggerated and cartoonish, giving the film a somewhat fairy-tale, dreamy feel.
Furthermore, as a musical, the film's songs are also a very important element. Among them, "Open Door, Close Door" (開門關門) fully conveys the protagonists' feelings and confusion, and highlights the unsettling effect of love, all within the span of a single song. Additionally, several songs sung by Da-he cleverly play with musical solfège and classic children's songs, which is very enjoyable and fully demonstrates the production team's thoughtfulness.
Valentine's Day is approaching. If you want to watch a quality and sweet romantic film, then you definitely shouldn't miss 52Hz, I Love You! Facing fierce competition, I wonder how 52Hz, I Love You will perform in Hong Kong? Also, I'm even more curious if it will spark a trend of Hong Kong musicals, bringing about a Hong Kong version of La La Land or 52Hz, I Love You.