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AIDS and religion are two of the most difficult
subjects to evaluate in a film. The film cannot come across as patronising
or condescending, otherwise, it'll just annoy a hell of a lot of
people. Fortunately, Forever and Ever avoids these problems by adeptly
touching on these subjects ever so lightly, yet still with a sense
of direction and purpose.
The film's story is mainly focused on Mrs Tam
(Sylvia Chang) and her relationship with her troubled son Siu Fu
(Chris Lee). Because you see, Siu Fu is no ordinary boy; he was
born with the potentially deadly disease haemophilia, and he has
to cope with injections every month to ease his suffering for the
rest of his short life. For much of Siu Fu's adolescent life, he
has come to accept his fate ("God's Will"), although he yearns to
do things that ordinary boys do, like play basketball.
Although being incapacitated to a degree by his
illness, Siu Fu excels in the area of creative writing. His talent
for prose earns him a number of awards, and his hard work eventually
secure him a place at the City University.
No film is without its twists and turns, and Forever
and Ever takes a sudden dramatic twist when Siu Fu discovers that
he has contracted AIDS from a contaminated blood transfusion. Already
burdened by his haemophilia disease, Siu Fu just cannot believe
that something like this has happened to him, as he is still a virgin.
It is this sudden turn of fate that forces Siu Fu to view life in
a different perspective altogether. His outlook remains positive,
which sees him write the book of his life that becomes a bestseller.
Forever and Ever doesn't begin and end in a linear
route. Rather, the narrative flips back and forth between the days
when Siu Fu was alive, and the current time about his mother. (Yes,
Siu Fu does die, and this is not a spoiler because it is said so
right at the beginning of the film). The current time sees Mrs Tam,
now a social worker, tries to help a girl, Fion (played by Josie
Ho), come to terms with being diagnosed HIV positive. Mrs Tam introduces
her to Siu Fu's book, which inspires her to live her life to the
fullest, to treasure every single day as if it's her last, and not
to feel sorry for herself. By the end, we see a much more positive
and stronger Fion than at the beginning of the film, and at last,
she is willing to tell people that she is HIV positive.
Forever and Ever is not a happy film, but one
of sadness from beginning to end. However, it does have its moments
of joy and these are usually associated with the ever likeable Siu
Fu. It is difficult not to feel compassionate and sympathetic about
Siu Fu's condition, and it is even more profound when you realise
that time is running out for him.
Some may find Forever and Ever to be a load of
sentimental pap, but I thoroughly enjoyed it immensely. The story
was heartrendingly gripping and I loved the performances by Sylvia
Chang and Chris Lee, who was utter compelling in his debut performance
as Siu Fu. For me, the characters looked real, and could easily
be your next-door neighbours, or even a classmate. Without knowing
Siu Fu, you'd think he was just a normal kid by the way he acts
and talks. Siu Fu comes across like a ray of sunshine in an otherwise
grey and bleak world. He embodies the good and the simple. He infuses
you with his down-to-earth, good-natured personality, which certainly
pull your heartstrings when you feel what he is going through; what
sufferers of haemophilia go through.
Sylvia Chang also put in an outstanding performance
as Siu Fu's mother. I've lost count at how many times she had cried
in that film. Certainly, she has put in a lot of emotion and energy
into making this film work, which gives it that extra buzz.
There is a sub-context about religion in the film.
Mrs Tam tells her son that God made him like that as a way of testing
his resolve. Siu Fu doesn't understand why other boys are not tested,
and his mother explains that he is one special boy; here on earth
to do special things. Siu Fu's belief in God wavers during the middle
of the film when he learns of being infected with AIDS. However,
he makes it up to God when he realises that his mission on earth
is to help others by writing. Siu Fu is a fallen angel finally able
to forge new wings to fly home.
Overall, Forever and Ever is a compelling and
thoughtful film. The performances are spot on, and the story gripping
and dramatic. Not a film for everyone, but I certainly liked it.
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