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Synopsis: Limbo is an action thiller film directed by Cheang Pou-soi and released in 2021. The film is based on the Chinese novelist Lei Mi’s novel Wisdom Tooth. The play is about a serial murder case that happened among marginalized people of Hong Kong society.
Script:
James: Hello everyone, my name is James.
Juan: I’m Juan.
James: The movie we are discussing today is Limbo. Today, we’re going to talk about the film’s unique portrayal of space and place.
Juan: That’s right, James. Director Cheang Pou-soi did something really interesting with the setting of the film. Instead of showcasing the prosperous and fashionable Hong Kong we’re used to seeing, he aimed to depict Hong Kong’s abandoned and forgotten spaces.
James: Absolutely. One of the most striking things about the film is the use of black and white cinematography. Juan, why do you think the director chose to shoot the film in black and white?
Juan: Well, color is often used to convey certain emotions or moods in a film. By shooting in black and white, the director eliminates the interference of superfluous colors in the picture and offers the possibility of interpretation. Black and white tones also symbolize ruin, decadence, and darkness, which helps to reveal the bottom lives of Hong Kong that are often hidden under the cover of skyscrapers and neon lights. In addition, chiaroscuro lighting used by the director in this film also brings out the contrast of black and white color.
James: That’s a great point. One of the key locations in the film is Yue Man Square. It’s where the story starts and where the climactic fight scene takes place. Looking at Google Earth, we can see that the building has already been demolished because it was located in a construction zone. However, we can still see from the opposite buildings that “Limbo” was filmed here.
Juan: Yes, and the director intentionally shoots several scenes of trains passing over the slums to point out the alienation of individuals in the modern city. It is ironic that despite of using the subway to travel everyday, still no one is able to recognize the murderer. This emphasizes his characteristic of being on the fringe.
James: That’s an interesting observation, Juan. Another location that stood out to me was the Wah Fu Estate Kwun Yam Keng. The police found a left hand cut off here, and the Guanyin Temple is filled with 8000 statues of gods and goddesses of all religions.
Juan: The director added the element of gods in the film to show sin and a counterpoint to human nature. In the play, it is expressed that the serial killer had abandoned even his faith.
James:Another location in the film is the Edward Mansion at Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon. One of the major themes of this movie is about some social fringe and triad society, so the director put Kwun Tong and To Kwa Wan, two areas under redevelopment in the old district, into the film. The landmark Edward Mansion symbolizes the place where triads gather.
Juan: That’s a good point, James. Finally, the garbage scenes in the film were really striking to me. A montage is used to depict her living condition, the woman Coco, who is a drug dealer as well as a bottom fringe of society, is lying surrounded by garbage, showing her desperation, as if she is also a piece of garbage thrown by this world. The film uses a variety of shooting methods, including aerial shot, crane shot, and montage, to show the crowded, oppressive, and complex spatial structure of the dump and slum. Just as the film’s title, “Limbo” is composed of countless ants, so too is the labyrinthine anthill in which these marginalized people live, highlighted by the film’s abrupt panoramic views of the city’s cramped, dilapidated, and insignificant nature.
James: The director utilized eight trucks filled with garbage to create a dirty and chaotic scene. The venue was filled with garbage and sprayed with water to create a realistic effect. The movie’s art scenery has brilliantly completed the “aesthetics of ruins”, showing a stark contrast to the reality where a clean and neat environment can be seen.
Juan: The purpose of presenting the space in such a way was to create a sense of immersion for the audience and make them feel as if they were surrounded by this chaos. The surreal style of the scene intensified the atmosphere and definitely contributed to the very absorbing storytelling of the movie.
Juan: Furthermore, the director uses narrow corridors and stairs during the pursuit of Coco and Wang tao, on the one hand, it may present the depression, fear, and anxiety when the two women are trying to escape from their deaths, on the other hand, the narrow stairs indicate a fate that four of them have coincidentally missed each other just within a few seconds of deviation. The result may have changed if they met each other. The cluttered garbage provides Coco with a place to hide, just like the way she lives in the dump, this garbage provides her with a shelter to escape death.
James: Finally in the last part of the movie, we are revealed how the murder actually happened. in these scene we are introduced to the murderer’s house where she murdered and raped Coco. In the house, we can see countless weird looking models and human body parts, as well as loads of garbage like what we have seen in previous scenes. This stuff is used to portray the inner world of the murderer, which has a twisted mentality because of being abandoned by society long ago. All of these, combined with every element we previously mentioned, has brought us to the dark side of this glittering society which we may have never known without watching this movie, and I think that’s what makes this movie so unique and outstanding.
Juan: In general, the film depicts socially marginalized people, such as drug addicts, prostitutes, scavengers, gangsters, drug dealers, and illegal immigrants, breeding illegal activities and committing heinous acts of violence. This is a fold of the city, a reflection of modern civilization, a little-known “another world.”
James: Absolutely, Juan. That’s all the time we have for today. Thank you for listening!
Juan: Thanks.
Juan Wei (3036100181) & Yat Him Li (3036075154)
I appreciate your insightful observation and analysis in terms of filmic plot and settings. Also, your discussion specifically covers the cinematic techniques applied to show the crowded, oppressive, and complex spatial structure of the dump and slum. It is very creative that you compare Yue Man Square in the film with its current situation via Google Earth. However, I would suggest adding more analysis and reflection based on your investigation beyond this film, no matter online investigation or field trip. Furthermore, I would suggest a slight adjustment in your tone of voice since a more dialogue-liked podcast would greatly enhance the appeal of your work.