"GATAO-The Last Stray": a gangster romance film that finds a new narrative perspective

In the movie "GATAO-The Last Stray" directed by Jiang Ruizhi, the plot depicts A Qing (played by Zheng Renshuo) at the full moon banquet of the daughter of the big brother Ren Ge in the corner of the North Pavilion. A love story that cannot be kept together.

Quoting from the film’s public storyline, the protagonist of the film, A Qing, who is a corner head, met Xiao Qi. The two people who were originally incompatible with each other found out in their quarrels that they actually care about each other most, and then they fall in love with each other. Knowing each other, cherishing each other, and supporting each other, Aqing solves difficulties for Xiaoqi, and Xiaoqi encourages him when he encounters a bottleneck in Aqing's career. But at this moment, the world of Wan Wan was secretly framed the drug trafficking in Beiguan, which not only put Beiguan in a deep crisis, but Ren Ge and the Five Tigers successively misunderstood A Qing, and Xiao Qi was also seriously injured because of A Qing. A Qing's avatar lacks skills, so he has learned from it and decided to fight hard...

The prequel of "Gatao 2", a new story that can only be learned from "GATAO-The Last Stray"

"GATAO-The Last Stray" as the prequel to "Gatao 2", how to add a new story to the original story, and face the box office pressure that is bound to be compared ("Gatao 2" box office is 120 million), It was a daunting challenge for director Jiang Ruizhi. From the perspective of the film, although the action scenes of "Corner Head-Waves Wandering", although not as extravagant and eye-catching as "Gatao 2", it has a more delicate texture in the processing of literary drama. He borrowed From the perspective of an outsider, Xiao Qi, to look at this gangster world he doesn’t understand. Her love with A Qing not only harmonizes the murderous atmosphere of the whole film, but also through her dialogue with A Qing, let us I couldn't help seeing A Qing's body.

There is a line in the film saying:

"Since the shark is born, it has to swim around without stopping, day and night, only because of this can it survive."

On the surface, it means that A Qing is like a shark. He was born in the sea (jianghu), alone, without support, and can only survive by primitive instinct. However, what I think of is that sharks are often regarded as bloodthirsty animals. However, according to scientific experiments, some people have tried to verify the authenticity of sharks by bleeding blood in the sea. It turned out that after the sharks smelled the smell of human blood, they did not. The sign of going mad is just to swim past the testers flatly, but fish is their staple food.

If we compare this discovery after popular science with A Qing who is likened to a shark, then we will find that A Qing is not a cruel man by nature. He has his own principles. Although he is a little impulsive, he does not touch drugs. , He has great righteousness to his brothers and affection to Xiao Qi. He only fights back to seek justice for the same kind who harmed his gang’s harmony. "GATAO-The Last Stray" effectively outlines A Qing's character, making his behavior and transition in "Gatao 2" more consistent and persuasive.

It’s worth seeing

Although the love element added in this film makes the rhythm a bit slow, but after watching it, I think about the plot again. A Qing and Xiaoqi's love in their adversity still has a special taste. It reminds me of the Hong Kong film classic that was only released in Taiwan a few days ago. "If there is love", the director did not sensationally try to deceive the audience's tears, nor did he preach to us that "the evil way is not feasible", but restored the brother to a flesh and blood person, with his difficulties and struggles, and many lives. Dilemma.

The director also made good use of Xiaoqi's photographer's role setting, and asked her to make an indelible mark in the black-and-white photos taken by her for the North Hall and Aqing's interaction with the passage of time and personnel changes.

In the portrayal of the characters, the film does not fall into the black and white arrogance. The ruthlessness of the boss "Ba Dong" (Long Shaohua) towards his son-in-law actually hides his adherence to his gang's principles, or even his worries about his daughter's "not loving people"; it seems to be the "world" of the biggest villain in the film (Sheng Jian), we were shocked when we saw later that he also had a soft heart after doing all the bad things, trying to promise his wife a good future. They unanimously let us see the underworld under the frightening and terrifying appearance, other slender faces that are different from what we originally imagined.

"GATAO-The Last Stray" may not be perfect, but he has the sincerity to tell the story. The director finds a new narrative angle and shows us gangster romance movies that are different from traditional gangster movies, but they don’t blend too well. unexpected. Zheng Renshuo and Xie Xinying successfully brought the two roles of A Qing and Xiaoqi into sparks. The finishing touches of Zhang Zaixing and Chen Zhusheng, the old gods of Long Shaohua and Gao Jie were present, and the competent performances of actors such as Sheng Jian and Zeng Wanting made " "GATAO-The Last Stray" is full of dramatic tension. It is worth going to the theaters to find out. The movie is currently in theaters in Taiwan. Those who are interested should not miss it!