Amphetamine

Undoubtedly a highlight of the Festival, Scud’s curiously addictive and very beautiful film set in Hong Kong follows the relationship of high-flyer Daniel and a beautiful odd-jobber, Kafka, who steals his heart. The pair meet at a Shinto temple as both are questioning whether to stay in Hong Kong.

The attraction is powerful, strong enough to break down barriers of class, fear and expectation. But the bogeyman of addiction rears its head, and Daniel’s love is tested to the extreme as Kafka, overwhelmed by his past in the face of such unconditional love, seeks solace in drugs. Scud’s novel and very contemporary approach to filmmaking – he is something of an enfant terrible in the Chinese industry – with both montage and camera work exploring startling new ideas, is exquisitely balanced with a sense of classical Eastern form in many of the shot compositions.