Parking / Ting Che (DVD Review)

Writer/Dir: Chung Mong-Hong - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Chang Chen, Lu-Mei Kwai, Leon Dai, Chapman To, Jack Kao, Peggy Tseng
Taiwan, 2009

Reason to see: Love Taiwanese films

I love the title of Parking and how it relates to the film. Does parking mean waiting? Not moving? Can anything happen when you are simply waiting and not moving? What if parking is not intentional? All of these ideas are explored bringing an unlikely series of encounters on the evening of Mother's Day in Taipei. The film has an amazing sensitivity throughout, when it is dealing with harsh subject matter or everyday life, or both.

The characters we are introduced to are all mostly defined & credited by their jobs, but the main character Chen Mo (played by Chang Chen) whom we spend most of the time with is really hard to read, which completely works. I was captivated by his character, never knowing what he would do next. Chang Chen (Red Cliff / Chi ba, 2046, Blood Brothers / Tian Tang Kou) does an amazing job reeling in the audience in his portrayal of this subtle character whom at times ranges from casual indifference to being genuinely sweet.

The film is beautifully shot, and the colours are gorgeous and alive brightening up the screen often at the most unlikely times. The high contrast used is bold and it works as it highlights how different the worlds within the lives of the different characters are. Knowing those lives are all very separate, somehow it manages to pull them all together just as it can shift the tone of the film from indifferent to brutal to tenderhearted seamlessly.

Parking is a real treat, don't sit and wait in the car - get out there and catch it while you can.

DVD Details:
Original dialogue in Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien with optional English and French subtitles in yellow.
DVD packaging is an environmentally-friendly digipack made from 100% recycled materials and wrapped in 100% biodegradable cellophane.

Parking DVD release date is June 8, 2010 and is available at the Evokative Films website store

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it to art house fans and drama fans who like a touch of crime

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009-2010
Originally reviewed for Theatrical Release - November 27, 2009