MY PRINCE EDWARD, DIR. NORRIS WONG (2019)
Golden Plaza, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
My Prince Edward, directed and written by Norris Wong in 2019, is a romantic tragedy. Cheung Lei-fong, as known as “Fong”, starred by Stephy Tsang, is engaged with his eight-year boyfriend, Edward Yan, starred by Chu Pak-hong who is submissive to his mother. But Fong has a sham marriage with a mainlander before that struggles her coming marriage. Having a clingy and annoying personality, Edward force Fong to give up her freedom in the relationship and made her reconsider Edward’s proposal. Eventually, Fong steps out of this marital mess and finds her own will. The movie is majorly taken place within Golden Plaza in Prince Edward where Fong and Edward run their bridal gown rental business and wedding photography respectively and live together above the mall. In fact, Norris Wong resides in Allied Plaza, opposite to Golden Plaza, where is famous of its wedding service.
In the movie, Golden Plaza is conveyed in two levels of living: working and residing.
On the lower level, businesses run in tight connection with others. Illustrated in the movie, Fong’s bridal gown rental business complements the wedding photographing business of Edward. The narrow aisles, low roof, and concealed rooms without windows perfectly creates a strong bonding within the mall and also strengthens the tension between characters. In reality, owners seldom put their products on the aisles. The mall is rather clean and quiet, greatly contrasting with the movie’s narrative.
On the next level of residing, Fong and Edward are confined in a small flat with one bedroom and tiny living room, showing a dearth of private space. The climax is set in the living room where they have a quarrel over their relationship and Edward cannot avoid her but only shutting his ears in the same room, depriving of comfortable personal space. In reality, Tong Lau above the mall are mostly between 300 to 500 ft. which aligns with the movie. However, the movie failed to show the inner setting of the building also being confined and blocky.
Clip 1. The quarrel between Fong and Edward is set in the confined living room
In my opinion, the portrayal of the movie can be concluded with one word: confinement. From movie’s spatial experience to Fong’s and Edward’s lives, they are all in confinement. Prince Edward is a highly dense district exemplified by its mixed use of land, where residents can live there for the rest of their lives, resulting in a confinement of their lives. From a micro-perspective, Golden Plaza is a perfect illustration of confinement where residence can work and live in the same building. Apart from spatial experience, character’s settings are also echoing the word “confinement”. Fong is confined by her past sham marriage with Yang, the mainlander, and the marriage with Edward in the future, which demands her submission of freedom. Furthermore, Edward is confined in her mother’s convention like necessarily having a wedding and buying the flat in Golden Plaza. Characters’ personal confinement convolute with the locale and the camera set-up, exaggerating the suffocation of the movie.
— Wong Ming Chun Markus
You have demonstrated some level of fieldwork research. You have compared the scenes from the film to that in reality and analyzed the various spaces under the concept of confinement. To further your understanding, you may utilize concepts/theories from the class, e.g. place/ space to anchor your piece. Lastly, do remember to cite all the sources you have used for reference.