Copyright scmp
Hong Kong filmmakers rarely get as philosophical about the human condition as they do in the animated feature Another World, which contemplates the limits of goodness in the face of great evil, set against a vibrant action fantasy backdrop. Adapted from Naka Saijo’s novel Sennenki: Thousand-Year Journey of an Oni with both narrative flair and visual potency, this impressive effort by first-time director Tommy Ng Kai-chung and writer-producer Polly Yeung Po-man is an anomaly in more ways than one. Although the film’s focus on reincarnation appears to align it with Eastern religions, Another World’s belief in kindness renders it a universally engaging watch. Young children should stay away, however, as they might be scarred by some of the shockingly grisly moments in this macabre tale. Leading us into the afterlife is one of its spirit guides, Gudo (voiced by Chung Suet-ying), who is tasked with helping deceased souls let go of their memories and escorting them past a magical waterfall into the next life – all the while making sure the “seed of evil” inside each of them, if any, does not sprout out of resentment. His latest charge is a girl named Yuri (Christy Choi Hiu-tung), whose pure and lively character fascinates Gudo. Yuri is initially not aware that she has died and is instead persistent in her search for her younger brother, whose fate remains unknown for much of the runtime. Yuri’s encounter with Gudo is regularly intercut with other seemingly unrelated stories. First, there is the tragic case of Goran (Yeung Nga-man), the “cursed” princess of Flower City, who is being pushed by her unsupportive people, deceitful officials and an impending invasion into becoming a tyrant. And then there is Keung (Will Or Wai-lam), one of the members of a suffering farming community that is ruled with an iron fist by a military force. To defy them, the brave young man is tempted by the supernatural power that embracing his own seed of evil would bring – even if it would literally turn him into a monster. While the innocent looks of its two protagonists and the Japanese anime-inspired fantasy action scenes – always involving a demon slayer voiced by Louis Cheung Kai-chung – might suggest otherwise, Another World is, at its heart, a morally complex film that repeatedly challenges its characters with circumstances of extreme evil. It also brings thought-provoking attention to a notion seldom addressed in depth in today’s conflict-filled world: the rage against injustice and human tragedy, and the vicious cycle this inadvertently fires up in the hearts of even the most benevolent people. One of the best Hong Kong films of the year, Another World is bound to be seen as a milestone for the city’s animation industry – perhaps ironically, given that there is very little on screen to indicate its Hong Kong roots. Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook
