In “Love. Extreme,” Dennis Chew (left) and Shane Pow embark on an island-wide chase after a con artist.
“4Love” is an anthology of four short films, each exploring different facets of love. While the stories are independent, they collectively represent the spectrum of love experienced throughout a lifetime.
4Love (PG)
Entertainment Value: ★★★ / Artistic Merit: ★★
Synopsis:
- “Love. Destiny”: Max (Aloysius Pang) and Nissa (Hayley Woo) connect through a shared library book titled “Destiny.” They exchange messages within its pages, forming a bond without ever meeting. Max eventually proposes a meeting. Will they finally come face to face?
- “Love. Extreme”: Kok Weng (Dennis Chew) plans to propose to his girlfriend, Irene (Jayley Woo), but a street hustler steals the engagement ring. He and his buddy, Guang Tou Sheng (Shane Pow), pursue the thief across the island, racing against time to recover the ring before the proposal.
- “Love. Temptation”: Sunny (Wendy Sng), a successful advertising art director, feels neglected due to her flight attendant husband’s (Aloysius Pang) frequent absences. She becomes involved with a charming advertising photographer, Shaojie (Shane Pow), who turns out to be a dangerous obsessive.
- “Love. Remember”: A young couple, Carl (Chen Wei En) and Ellie (Hu Jiaqi), are on the verge of divorce. Distracted, Carl accidentally hits an elderly man (Duan Wei Ming) with his car. He takes him home and witnesses the man’s devoted care for his wife, who suffers from dementia. The old man regrets never having taken wedding photos with his wife. Carl brings them to his photo studio, where Ellie observes their enduring love and reconsiders her own relationship.
A Tapestry of Love in Singapore
“4Love” comprises four short films primarily in Mandarin, each helmed by a different director and featuring a unique cast. United by the theme of love, the stories, though separate, form a cohesive narrative of love’s journey through life. “Love. Destiny” represents budding romance, “Love. Extreme” portrays a mature love ready for commitment, “Love. Temptation” explores the challenges of temptation within marriage, and “Love. Remember” embodies the enduring power of unwavering love through life’s hardships. With a total runtime of under 1 hour and 40 minutes, the four directors deliver concise and engaging stories with a brisk pace.
“Destiny”: Poetic Narration
Raihan Halim, the director of “Love. Destiny,” overcomes linguistic barriers to create a Mandarin short film. He captures the protagonists’ emotions with a lighthearted touch. Max and Nissa, both 27, have relatable experiences with love. The story, while familiar, has a touch of whimsy and romance, culminating in a pleasant surprise. Aloysius Pang and Hayley Woo generate a palpable chemistry. However, the narration in “Love. Destiny” feels overly formal and lacks a natural, conversational tone.
“Extreme”: A Breath of Fresh Air
Director Chan Tze Chien, known for horror films like “23:59” and “The Ghost Child,” demonstrates a refreshing approach to romance in “Love. Extreme.” The portrayal of the street hustler as a disabled individual adds a layer of complexity, as Kok Weng and Guang Tou Sheng’s pursuit is misconstrued as bullying. The duo’s desperate quest to retrieve the ring leads to a series of comical misadventures, culminating in an unexpected encounter with… well, let’s just say it involves fertilizer. “Love. Extreme” stands out as the most humorous of the four films.
“Temptation”: Echoes of “Fatal Attraction”
Directed by Gilbert Chan, “Love. Temptation” evokes the erotic thriller atmosphere of his previous works, such as “Soup of Souls” and “Slices of Life,” bearing resemblance to “Fatal Attraction.” However, the obsessive character is portrayed by Shane Pow instead of Glenn Close. The film explores extramarital affairs from a female perspective. While Aloysius Pang delivered bold performances in “Slices of Life”, his intimate scenes in “Love. Temptation” are less intense. Shane Pow sheds his idol image, delivering a passionate and violent performance.
“Remember”: A Touching Tale
“Love. Remember,” directed by Royston Tan, tells a moving story of a couple on the brink of divorce who rediscover their love after witnessing the unwavering devotion of an elderly couple. The film highlights the husband’s lifelong dedication to his wife, sharing both joy and sorrow. He believes that despite her dementia, she still retains her love for him. Duan Wei Ming, famous for his role as “Ah Cai” in “Sesame and Green Beans,” delivers a poignant performance as the elderly man. His weathered face and unconditional love for his wife are deeply touching, earning him well-deserved praise.