Production Year: 2004 - Horror - Director: Fruit Chan - Original Language: Mandarin\Cantonese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Tony Leung Kar Fai, Bai Ling, Miriam Yeung more
A former TV star and now wife of a prominent businessman desperate to keep her looks learns of a mysterious chef whose dumplings are said to make women appear more youthful. But... more
Dumplings DVD
Wickedly delicious and sinfully satisfying Fruit Chan's seventh film is a delightful and ... more
squirm-inducing voyage through the slippery-slope nightmarish perils of vanity. Featuring Bai Ling Miriam Yeung and Tony Leung Kar-Fai and the sumptuous cinem...
A review by apple_scruff on Dumplings (DVD) April 18th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Good
How does it compare to similar films?
Not applicable
Advantages:
superb, stylishly shot, harrowing
Disadvantages:
none
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Director: Fruit Chan Produced: Peter Ho-Sun Chan Starring: Miriam Yeung, Bai Ling and Tony Ka Fai Leung Length: approx 87 mins Subtitled, dialect Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) 18 years and over
Reviewing DVD region 2 English subtitles
Originally part of the 'Three…Extremes' trilogy, made up of three short films from Asia's most accomplished 'horror' directors-Takashi Miike's 'Box', Chan-wook Park's 'Cut', and of course Fruit Chan's original short 'Dumplings', this extended film version is a disturbing tale of human excess.
'Dumplings' takes place in Hong Kong, where Mrs Lee (Miriam Yeung Chin Wah) a beautiful but aging ex-soap opera star, seeks the help of the eccentric Aunt Mei (Ling Bai), an ex-abortionist and the connoisseur of the expensive rejuvenating dumplings of the title. Aunt Mei's youth inducing dumplings have made her famous, and Mrs Lee, desperate to regain the failing attractions of her older wealthy husband (Tony Leung Ka Fai), who embarks on an affair with a much younger woman, is willing to devour the dumplings to secure her desires.
Aunt Mei secures her secret ingredients by crossing the borders into mainland China. The secret ingredient is human foetuses, which Aunt Mei has consumed for many years, producing in herself her own best advert. The ingredients aren't kept a secret from Mrs Lee, and though hesitant at first, she chews her way through the meticulously prepared food dreaming of the results. However, the results just aren't fast enough for her, as she watches her husband slip further from her grasp, and wishes for a more potent (stronger) ingredient. The most potent are foetuses in their second trimester, five months old-according to Mei 'cute and nutritious'. When a poor girl of only fifteen arrives at Mei's dilapidated apartment with her mother, seeking an illegal abortion for the girl who was impregnated by her own father, Mei see's her chance. Just how far will Mrs Lee go to securing youth and beauty, and who will she destroy to get it?
This film is beautifully shot by Christopher Doyle (2046), with some great establishing shots and intense close-ups, particularly towards the end, where one of the last sequences is possibly the most disturbing and captivating. Everything is shot with vivid colour, like a moving painting, gorgeously intense . Every scene is dealt with careful precision, beautifully delicate and bold at the same time. The costumes designed by Dora Ng are stunning. Mrs Lee's clothes are delicately crafted from rich materials and vibrant colours, perfectly fitted; a reflection of the beautiful ideal she wishes to fulfil. In contrast Mei's outfits are just as bright, more random and less co-ordinated, a reflection of her carefree nature and exuberance for life. The special effects consist mostly of foetus doubles, and seem disturbingly real in their jelly-like substance and just-recognisable human traits. The pace of the film is different to Hollywood films, as the story unravels with a steady pace rather than producing a beginning, middle and end, smack-bang-whollup kind of format. I know the pace has concerned some viewers, but I didn't find this a problem, and it gives you time to absorb.
This film is harrowing in it's reflection of today's society. The obsession of youth and beauty, especially amongst the Hollywood elite, is a multi-billion dollar business, and it does seem apparent people will stop at nothing to secure ever lasting beauty. Mrs Lee mourns for her loss of beauty and youth, fighting with the youthful portrayal of beauty seen in her soap, and the should-be look in her husband's eyes. Aunt Mei offers a solution, and with money no object, Mrs Lee is willing to try anything. Her knowledge of the secret ingredient makes the viewing more disturbing and sad, her knowledge of the contents of the dumplings only reflect the shallow all consuming fear of age and the unknown future.
Another major factor apparent in Chan's 'Dumplings' is the extreme class divide associated with China today. The wealthy have always fed (metaphorically speaking ie-hard labour) off the poor, and grown stronger on it. The collapsing block of urban flats where Mei resides is a stark contrast to Mrs Lee's luxurious hotel living whilst her lavish house is been constructed. However, in this upper-class capitalist infused society (China ironically been a currently communist country-2007) and social rules, which restrict Mrs Lee everyway possible, her doting need to be a good wife, the obsession of creating the perfect house-wife image, whereas as Mei lives poor, but free from social constraint and formality. This idea two women, from completely different lives and social background, come together in the common desire for youth and beauty is again the disturbing reflection of today's youth obsessed culture.
This film isn't really a horror film, although the general idea seems more suited to a cut and slash gore fest. Whilst the gore is obviously bloody and disturbing, especially a prominent abortion scene-however, it is never excessive, using the correct amount to convey the plot and atmosphere and clever camera angles to minimalise the visual impact on particularly disturbing areas. Absent are the writhing decaying monsters and black and white face painted youngsters with huge evil eyes from conventional horror films you'd expect of this genre, in it's place is a much more real fear. What makes this film so disturbing is it's tragic portrayal of unrealistic desire prominent in today's world. It's incredibly sad and harrowing to witness Mrs Lee's descent into obsession over superficial beauty and youth, and the extremes she will go to are almost tear-jerking.
The acting is superb, and although spoken entirely in a widespread Chinese dialect and obviously entirely in subtitles, it never affects the performance of the actors who do a superb job of maintaining the right emotions. Mrs Lee is obviously the most complex, whereas Aunt Mei serves the purpose of the supplier of dumplings, but it's really Mrs Lee who we a-line ourselves with as an audience. The music (Chan Kwong-Wing@Clickmjusic) is haunting, beautiful and hypnotic, which evokes tension, disgust, fear, sadness and remorse.
I have never watched a Chinese film before, and was really magnetised when I watched 'Dumplings'. I was bowled-over at how superb it was, and it has now become a firm favourite. I strongly recommend watching this film, however, some content is obviously disturbing, so if you don't a have a strong constitution I recommended you think about it before watching this film. The film isn't a pro-abortion or anti-abortion picture and indicates no morale message towards abortion at all. Obviously if you are offended by this you may not want to watch this film as some scenes are quite graphic. If you do decided to watch it I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
DVD Extras: Include an orginal trailer (no subtitles), Tartan trailer reel including Three...Extremes, Bai Ling Interview
Advantages: Original, dark drama Disadvantages: May be offensive to some
Cook Aunt Mei (Bai Ling) has found the secret of eternally youthful looks and she is the product of that. Set in Hong Kong, she travels regularly to mainland China to get aborted foetuses which she then uses as the special ingredient in her dumplings. Mrs Li (Miriam Yeung) is a failing actress who feels threatened by the loss of her youth and the loss of her (older and wealthy) husband's attention. She is prepared to pay Aunt Mei for her dumplings, ... ...that is five months or so along) as she realises her husband is having an affair with a young masseuse. However, Aunt Mei knows a young girl who wishes to have an abortion which meets all of Mrs Li's requirements and more and arranges to perform this. However, Mrs Li's obsession is causing her problems and things start to go wrong.
I rented this film as I heard some good things about it, and certainly the premise is original and is fairly sensitively ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: original, interesting thought-provoking subject Disadvantages: meandering, no real conclusion, disturbing for some
...Aunt Mei and her infamous dumplings that hold regenerative powers, allowing the consumer to gain prolonged (or possibly eternal) youth. She meets a new customer who remains the main character throughout the film, a Mrs Li, who tries to use the dumplings to regain her youth and hence the affections of her estranged husband.
The next thing to know about this film is what the secret ingredient of the dumplings are. It's not really meant to be a secret ... ...the living proof that her dumplings work. What I found interesting about this was the way that she behaved. She carried herself like an older person might, free from the self-consciousness of youth and not caring about getting messy from flour etc. whilst making her dumplings, but was also young and full of energy and some youthlike habits. So that got me to wondering whether older people seem to have less energy than children do because their bodies ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...After a long absence of truly great live action films, Disney once again managed to hit the mother lode in 1975 with the release of the Apple Dumpling Gang. Following a trio of orphans who are fostered with a quite unwilling Russel Donovan, who also happens to be a hopelessly inept gambler, we are treated to some of the very best comic slapstick ever to grace the screen. Poor Mr Donovan is literally duped into holding onto "some valuables" which he is most dismayed to discover are three little vagabonds. The children are out messing about one day when they find a large lump of gold that has become exposed thanks to an earlier earthquake. It is 1878, and this is California, so gold means lots of attention and greed. The townspeople want that gold, so insist it is kept at the bank, and that the children and Mr Donovan cannot touch it...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Three stories, very visual Disadvantages: Short, some didn't make sense
...Three Extremes, certainly three short but strange horror movies by the Tartan Asia Extreme network, which probably do the best horror movies out there despite them being subtitled they have a great plot, great gory scenes and fantastic twists. I prefer the longer films, but anyway here is the three stories, and three extremes. Firstly one film, three extremes, each by a different director.
There is another film out three extremes 2. However I decided to put this to the test yesterday and watched it. The film links in with the 3rd section within the DVD.
Dumplings - Directed by Fruit Chan (shorter version of a film)
Firstly lets say this is the 45 minute, well shorter version of the film dumplings. This films certainly makes you think, what? As soon as you see the red jelly substance, which is put in this womans dumplings, to...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A brilliant classic. Disadvantages: No extras, play menu is a bit plain.
..., 19. Old People, 20. Methyl Steelworks Club, 21. Neck Lumps, 22. Casual Vomit, 23. High Fibre Diet, 24. Never Again, 25. The Road The Gypsies Go.
●General Info●
Here is the information that is usually on the bottom half of the back of the cover:
Running Time:1 hour and 30 minutes
Age certificate: 18
Production year: 1987
Director: Nobby Clark
Editors: Paul Naisbitt and Ivan Naisbitt
Producer: John Reid
Dolby Surround Sound? Yes
Studios: Universal and Sleepy Dumpling (music) Ltd.
●And Finnally●
I would strongly recommend this DVD to someone who hasn't watched much Billy Connolly, or anyone with a crude sense of humour. It really is a classic and my sides were acheing for hours after watching this along with the tears of laughter at the time of watching this. This review would have been much more...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Consumer Advice: Contains abortion theme and strong gory images.
Video Category: World Cinema Feature Film
Country Of Origin: Hong Kong
Plot: A former TV star afraid of facing middle age visits a mysterious chef whose recipe for dumplings helps women look and feel younger. But what is the secret ingredient in the dumplings?
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): PALISADES TARTAN; LACE GROUP; SONY DADC
Release date: 24/07/2006
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: TVD 3591
Barcode: 5023965359124
Languages
Main Language: Mandarin\Cantonese
Subtitle Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Making Of Featurette,, Original Theatrical Trailer,, Tartan Trailer Reel,, Film Notes,, Scene Selection
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS Digital Surround 5.1
DVD Description
A former TV star and now wife of a prominent businessman desperate to keep her looks learns of a mysterious chef whose dumplings are said to make women appear more youthful. But what is the secret ingredient in the dumplings and at what cost has it been devised? Miriam Yeung Chin-Wah puts in a fantastic performance as the vain and fearful Ching, scared of growing old and unattractive now that she has married a rich businessman. The superb cinematography by regular Wong Kar Wai collaborator Christopher Doyle (INFERNAL AFFAIRS, THE QUIET AMERICAN) adds a slick edge to the film that has a grim, disturbing subject matter. Expanding on the short film also entitled DUMPLINGS that comprised a section of THREE…EXTREMES, the acclaimed Hong Kong director Fruit Chan has made a stylish and sinister film that takes a look at society’s obsession with youth and the morality and vanity of one woman as she attempts to regain her youth and physical beauty. Chan further cements his reputation as a leading light in Asian cinema with a subtle and restrained film that also manages to be highly disturbing and thought-provoking.
Professional reviews
Review: A cult smash in the making (Daily Telegraph, 13/07/2006)
A sinister story of diet, deception, and death (Empire, 13/07/2006)
Fruit Chan's gut-crawling sick-flick stylishly outgrosses Asian bad-boys Takashi Miike and Park Chan-wook. (Total Film, 13/07/2006)
![Dumplings (2004) [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78471073.jpg)
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
