Interview by William Chan
“I Want to be a Plastic Chair”, a local film directed by Ao Ieong Weng Fong, delves into the challenging journey of a local youngster as he navigates the difficult process of renting a flat after being forced to leave his parents due to family issues.
The film sheds light on the housing problems faced by many in Macau and highlights the tendency of young locals to escape from reality. Through the protagonist’s encounters with the cruelty of society, he ultimately declares his desire to be reincarnated as a “plastic chair” in his next life.
The exclusive interview was held in a coffee shop in Nape last week.
Ao Ieong, a local movie director and cinematographer, is a graduate of Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST) in Taiwan. His film “Blue Amber” garnered the prestigious “Asian New Talent Award - Best Cinematography” at the 2018 Shanghai International Film Festival. He also received awards from the Macau International Movies and Videos Festival for his participation in the short films “The Mutation” and “But Myself.”
“I Want to be a Plastic Chair” was selected as one of the four film projects of the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) “2018 Support Programme for the Production of Feature Films”.
Ao Ieong mentioned that in his adult life, he has almost never lived with his parents. He studied at a university in Taiwan and then worked in the mainland. When he returned to Macau, he found that many young people were still living with their parents. “I understand that the high cost of rent makes it challenging for many young people, including myself, to move out and live independently. However, it is worth considering that by never confronting life issues and always living with parents, they might be missing out on valuable social experiences,” he noted.
In the film, the protagonist Ming, portrayed by Wong Hin Yan, works part-time in a convenience store and lives with his parents. Ao Ieong describes Ming’s life as a hidden one, where he unconsciously repeats the same routine every day. While some may label Ming as a loser, Ao Ieong doesn’t necessarily share this opinion. However, Ao Ieong said that when Ming’s family circumstances forced him to move out, this new challenge brought about significant changes in his life.
“Ming begins to realise that his monthly salary of 7,000 patacas from his part-time job is far from sufficient. But can he find a better job without any prior work experience? Is he willing to compromise his peaceful life for more work? Moreover, Ming has to confront the harsh reality of dealing with the city’s notorious real-estate agents and interacting with people in general. Can he cope with these challenges?” Ao Ieong asked.
Ao Ieong noted that the movie incorporates elements of suspense and fantasy, creating a surreal atmosphere. However, he believes that life itself has always been surreal. “Family problems, in particular, can be difficult to comprehend fully, as it is challenging to put oneself in another person’s shoes. While reading the script about Ming’s family situation may not seem like a big deal, actually being immersed in it and experiencing it every day can turn it into a living hell,” he said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in people spending more time at home, exacerbated family problems. This heightened awareness of family dynamics has influenced his perspective of the portrayal of family elements in his film.
Eventually, Ming contemplates what he wants to become in his afterlife, and his answer is a plastic chair. Ao Ieong noted, “He sees a plastic chair as always being useful, serving a purpose without ever feeling unnecessary or taking up unnecessary space in a room, embodying everything he thought he wasn’t — functional, practical, and unobtrusive. Perhaps he finally became conscious of the repetitive and unfulfilling routine he has been trapped in and led to, but all seemed too late.”
The screenings of “I Want to be a Plastic Chair” will take place at the Lisboeta’s resort’s Emperor Cinemas in Cotai this Saturday at 5:40 p.m. and on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Both screenings will be followed by a discussion with the audience. To purchase tickets, visit: https://reurl.cc/WR8ZWk
This undated photo shows Ao Ieong Weng Fong directing a scene. – Photos provided by film producer
These photos show scenes from the local movie “I Want to be a Plastic Chair.”
