This compelling, almost ethereal existential drama is made ever more magical by the luminous presence of, Shi Qui as fragile hedonist Vicky. Her delirious, midnight world of seedy dives, rowdy nightclubs, boozy excess, drugs and her fractious relationship with controlling boyfriend, Hao-Hao (Chun-hao Tuan) provides a melancholic snapshot of Vicky's ethanol-hazed, metropolitan ennui. The distractingly angelic protagonist's disharmonious lifestyle frequently provides a stark, yet strangely captivating view of lost innocence. Vicky's dazed, increasingly isolated existence being intermittently illumined by lurid swathes of dazzling neon and mesmeric blasts of minimalist dance music. Visually striking locations, immaculate performances, and a driving techno soundtrack, the exquisite-looking 'Millennium Mambo' remains an intimately downbeat, dream-like descent into a party girl's emotional malaise.
Review of Millennium Mambo
