Director: Wai Ka Fai
Screenplay: Wai Ka Fai, Au Kin-yee
Cast: Sean Lau, Ronald Cheng, Francis Ng, Cecilia Cheung, Cherrie Ying, Tsui Tin-yau, Wong Yau-nam

In 2004, Director Wai produced a Lunar New Year movie Fantasia to echo the 70s classic The Last Message; Ronald Cheng also re-sings the latter’s famous theme song “Genius and Idiot” (by Sam Hui) to promote Hong Kong Movies.  The 2005 Himalaya Singh is a sequence of the former product – the “song” is changed into “singh”, while “singh” is indeed “sing”.  Cheng is the embodiment of the previous character played by Louis Koo who imitates Sam Hui.  His performance is actually a mute “Genius and Idiot”.  I can’t help but think: does Wai want to promote Hong Kong, or to defame Himalaya?

Himalaya Singh repeats the nodus of Too Many Ways to be No. 1, meanwhile the former’s characters are an incarnation of those of the latter.  However, as the background is set in a foreign country, plots sound quite foreign and unnatural to audiences.  In this journey of seeking dreams, spectators get lost with the characters.

Similar to Fantasia, Wai makes use of prominent 70s movie icons such as the Hui’s Brothers, gang leader Kin, Jen Lam and the Chopsticks Sisters.  They started a journey of healing, with the SAR epidemic short film 1:99 made in 2003 as the beginning.

Did they all find their dreams?  Well, I think we are still in the mid of journey and the story has not finished yet.  And do you want to go on to seek your dream?  Um… I guess it’s up to you.  Anyways, everyone is still sleeping.

By Keeto Lam

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