Lazy Hazy Crazy 同班同學 (2015) - Hong Kong

Lazy Hazy Crazy 同班同學 (2015) – Hong Kong

Lazy Hazy Crazy 同班同學 (2015) – Hong Kong

Reviewed by: Andrew Chan

Cast: Kwok Yik-sum, Fish Liew, Mak Tsz-yi, Tse Sit-chun, Gregory Wong, Susan Shaw
Director: Luk Yee-sum
Screenwriter: Luk Yee-sum
Producer: Subi Liang, Pang Ho-cheung
Director of photography: Jam Yau
Production designer: Man Lim-chung
Editor: Wenders Li
Music: Alan Wong, Janet Yung

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“Lazy Hazy Crazy” is a refreshing and raw take on a crowded coming of age and sexuality exploration genre from a fresh female perspective in Pang Ho Cheung’s frequent screenwriting collaborator, Luk Yee Sum. Directing her first feature film, Luk goes straight to the action, not afraid of revealing moments both figuratively and literally with plenty of close up full frontal nudity of its three young leads. The trio (Fish Liew, Kwok Yik Sum, Mak Tsz Yi) performs amicably in an collaborative daring respective roles on sexuality, nudity, culture, youth, love, friendship and understanding of ones true self. It is the raw and natural aspect of their performances that drives the film forward and ultimately a highly satisfying finale in what was a quietly brutal film on Hong Kong society.

Of the three bestie, Fish Liew comes of the most sophisticated and portrayed her helpless prostitute situation to survive being abandoned by her father and mother. Her emotionless during client sex, her cynical nature and maturity beyond her years is whitely evident. Perhaps the best scenes in the movie comes through with her limited conversations with her father (in Ken Lo best dramatic acting moment). Mak Tsz Yi plays the leader of the trio and the confidence in her performance shines through. Kwok Yik Sum is given the most innocent role in the film and the one that eventually changed and grew the most. However, it is the scene where Kwok is being punished by the impeccable Susan Shaw that remains in the audience minds. The scene depict the difficulty in parenthood, while also contributing to her eventual decision for her journey to womanhood.

All in all, “Lazy Hazy Crazy” is another great addition to a much improve year of Hong Kong cinema. It is almost heartening to say that 2015, Hong Kong cinema have finally come to terms with the local audience wants to endure. In creating and allowing space for the young leads to play out their conversations, interactions and physical embodiment, director and writer Luk Yee Sum exceeds expectations and transcends the film beyond the genre conventions. Unafraid, daring, fresh and realistic are descriptive words vital for the future of Hong Kong cinema. The final scene at the beach is not so much a finale, but more so one of revelation and understanding. Few Hong Kong films of modern era goes the distance and “Lazy Hazy Crazy” succeeds in doing so. (Neo 2015)

Recommended film and endorsed by HK Neo Reviews.

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