The Fantastic Water Babes

出水芙蓉

Hong Kong/China, 2010, colour, 2.35:1, 89 mins.

Director: Liu Zhenwei 刘镇伟 [Jeff Lau].

Rating: 6/10.

Long-shelved Zhong Xintong [Gillian Chung] film is an out-there Hong Kong “island movie” mixing the tender, silly and fantastic.

STORY

Changzhou [Cheung Chau] island, Hong Kong, the present day. Publicly humiliated by her boyfriend Lang Si (Sun Zuyang) in favour of snooty sexpot Zheng Weiwei (Zhou Xiuna), orphaned amateur swimmer Luo Jiao (Zhong Xintong) claims she’s received magical powers from the island’s protective god, Water Guan Yin (Tian Liang), after being saved during a suicide attempt. Her friends Yu (Huang Shengyi), Dahua (Xi Limei) and Xiaohua (Zhu Xun) go along with her delusion. However, finally Luo Jiao goes to Hong Kong to persuade champion swimmer Guo Zhiyuan (Fang Lishen), who promotes swimming contests under the title “The Fantastic Water Babes” 出水芙蓉, to train her so she can win back Lang Si by beating Zheng Weiwei in a forthcoming competition. She ends up kidnapping him to Changzhou island, where she secretly lodges him with her friend Xia Nv (Stephen Fung), who’s turned delusional since his father was killed by loansharks. Meanwhile, Luo Jiao starts to fall for Guo Zhiyuan, but he’s taken a liking to her friend Yu.

REVIEW

Shot in mid-2007, but shelved after the early 2008 Chen Guanxi 陈冠希 [Edison Chen] sex-photos scandal which included actress Zhong Xintong 钟欣潼 [Gillian Chung], The Fantastic Water Babes 出水芙蓉 isn’t quite the sexy-cheesy Hong Kong comedy its English title hints at. It falls squarely into the little-discussed genre of Hong Kong’s “island movies” – mostly small town/community stories which, being set a boat ride away from the city, explore traditional beliefs, local customs and, yes, often wacko characters in a way that’s long been impossible in the main metropolis (or even, any longer, in the New Territories). Often populated by non-Cantonese dialect groups, many of the islands have their own traditions untrammelled by urbanisation and think of themselves as separate from the main metropolis: for example, Changzhou 长洲岛 [Cheung Chau], the setting for Water Babes, is one of the oldest inhabited, including Hakka and Teochew settlers. The “island movie” is the closest Hong Kong cinema can get to remote community stories found in other cultures.

Veteran Hong Kong director Liu Zhenwei 刘镇伟 [Jeff Lau], who never saw a genre he didn’t think he could upstage, both sends up and writes a love letter to this one, with locals who worship a water deity (played by China’s former Olympic diving champ Tian Liang 田亮) and a lively collection of locals (including a batty transvestite played by Feng Delun 冯德伦 [Stephen Fung] who occasionally thinks he’s a lampstand). But there’s also a tender side to the movie, which is mined for both comedy (as everyone fakes miracles to encourage Zhong’s character to believe she has supernatural powers) and romance (a magical night-time bike ride by her and her swimming trainer, played by Fang Lishen 方力申 [Alex Fong Lik-sun]). The handsome widescreen photography by Ao Zhijun 敖志君 [Peter Ngor] and symphonic score by Huang Yinghua 黄英华 [Raymond Wong Ying-wah] shore up this big-hearted side until the fantastical element – gently satirised so far – really kicks in during the finale, where the film’s ever-present water theme takes the movie into a dimension where dreams really can be fulfilled. The finale has already been flagged in the film’s Chinese title (“The Water-Born Hibiscus Flower”) – the same as that used for Esther Williams’ 1952 Hollywood extravaganza Million Dollar Mermaid – but the effect is strangely uplifting, despite the so-so visual effects.

Water Babes is also a fascinating glimpse back to a time when Zhong was still stuck in cuter roles that played up to her “innocent” Twins image (with the film bending over backwards to limit shots of her in swimming costumes) rather than her current renaissance, at the ripe old age of 29, in more adult roles (Ex 前度, 2010, where her character even suffers from menstrual cramps). Nonetheless, she’s often touching as the little, bespectacled island fantasist, and equally good in the physical comedy, supported by goofy playing from local DJs Xi Limei 茜丽妹 (aka Miss Hyperbitch/Hyper BB) and Zhu Xun 朱熏 (aka fun e) as two of her supportive pals. Fang is just OK as the kidnapped trainer, and the role of Lei Yuyang 雷宇扬 as his manager could easily be ditched. Feng’s guest role as a wannabe transsexual works on and off.

CREDITS

Presented by Emperor Classic Films (HK), China Film Group (CN), Asia Animation (HK). Produced by Emperor Classic Films (HK).

Script: Liu Zhenwei [Jeff Lau]. Photography: Ao Zhijun [Peter Ngor]. Editing: Lin An’er [Angie Lam]. Music: Huang Yinghua [Raymond Wong Ying-wah]. Theme song music: Wu Lecheng [Ronald Ng]. Theme song lyrics: Lin Xi [Albert Leung]. Production design: Yu Jia’an [Bruce Yu]. Art direction: Chen Jinhe [Raymond Chan]. Costume design: Zeng Baiquan. Sound: Liang Zhida, Li Yaoqiang, Zeng Jingxiang [Kinson Tsang]. Action: Chen Shiteng. Visual effects: Zhong Zhihang (Centro Digital Pictures).

Cast: Zhong Xintong [Gillian Chung] (Luo Jiao/Gillian), Fang Lishen [Alex Fong Lik-sun] (Guo Zhiyuan), Feng Delun [Stephen Fung] (Xia Nv/Hanna), Huang Shengyi (Yu/Jade), Tian Liang (Water Guan Yin), Xi Limei (Dahua/Florence), Zhu Xun (Xiaohua/Flora), Luo Huijuan (Feng), Ma Yue (May), Zhou Xiuna (Zheng Weiwei/Brenda), Liao Yuqiao (Amy), Mu Wenting (June), Sun Zuyang (Lang Si/Ramsy), Lei Yuyang (Chang, Guo Zhiyuan’s manager), Tang Shiyong (Helen, Guo Zhiyuan’s girlfriend), Yuan Yuhua (village head), Zhong Guohong (elder brother), Long Huachen (younger brother), Deng Zifeng (Yu’s father), Luo Qiang (Hu Ruihe), He Saizhou (Boss Zhu), Liao Cuizhen (Dragon Granny), Chen Shiteng (sailor), Liang Shufen (Auntie Fucai), Ou Weilin (Wen, roll caller), Ma Jiren (commentator), Cheng Guoliang, Du Shaozhen (workers at Yu’s home), Zhang Xiaoqian (TV reporter), Liu Zhenwei [Jeff Lau] (man responsible for death of Hanna’s father).

Release: China, 6 Jul 2010; Hong Kong, 15 Jul 2010.

(Review originally published on Film Business Asia, 27 Jul 2010.)