Insanity 暴瘋語 (2015) – Hong Kong

Reviewed by Andrew Chan

Director: David Lee Kwong-Yiu
Producer: Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Law Chi-Leung, Mandy Law
Writer: David Lee Kwong-Yiu, Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Philip Lui Koon-Nam
Starring: Lau Ching-Wan, Huang Xiaoming, Fiona Sit Hoi-Kei, Bau Hei-Jing, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Mo Chun-Fai, Michelle Ye, Bonnie Xian, Michelle Wai, Joseph Lee Kwok-Lun, Pauline Suen Kai-Kwan

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Insanity is a film that deals with real issues about how mental illness can affect everybody at any moment in your life. The film tries hard to tackle the art of mental illness and the inability to control and tamper with. Emotions are a difficult thing to understand and the human mind is a vast field to master. Producer Derek Yee and first time writer and director David Lee makes a good fist of the scenario and portray just enough unbelievably to make it realistic.

Lau Ching Wan plays the character that becomes totally crazy after the loss of his son and in turn threw his wife off the building. Deemed as mentally unstable, he was not sentenced to jail. 3 years later, under the guidance and approval from mental health leading doctor played by Huang Xiao Ming, Lau was released to the public. The rest is history. Similarly other supporting actors are top notched, including a weary eyed Paw Hee Ching, a highly competitive Alex Fong and a toned down Fiona Sit. Ultimately the real star turn comes in the form of Huang Xiao Ming who infuses the character with an infernal of emotions.

All in all, Insanity is really about the world around us and what can truly be proclaimed as sane. After all, we are all a product of our context, genes, surrounding, life and experiences as a result we are all insane to a certain level of degree. The film ends on a resolute note where the insanity saved himself from the ultimate fate. For me, it’s a good way to round up the struggle and although it takes time for a cure, time is an essence and also a virtue. An interesting if diverting film of note.

Recommended film and endorsed by HK Neo Reviews.