The Gigolo (2015)
Summary
The Gigolo (Ái qíng gōng lǚ) is one of the Hong Kong drama films which is quite erotic in nature and focuses on the lives of male sex workers. The plot revolves around Fung, a good-looking man with a strong personality and humble beginnings, who unexpectedly becomes a very prominent gigolo after women start liking him. Fung lives the high life, shooting for the stars, this time however he does put all that he stands for at stake and does pay for the opportunities he is given.
Fung’s new fortune however is not without its positives, fame comes with a dramatic shift, wherein his family and friendships and now fragile thanks to all the wealth he possesses and power that accompanies it. During the saga, he deals with betrayal, loneliness, and his career’s dark side, which results in a tragic ending.
Awards & Wins
While The Gigolo did not achieve any notable fame, however there has been fanfare about it as a result of how it took bold risks with mature content while presenting the nightlife of Hong Kong with no filter. The film also attracted much attention due to the strong acting and good sketches in the settings.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Au Cheuk-man
- Writer: Chan Man-keung
- Cast:
- Dominic Ho as Fung, the titular gigolo, a character who is charming without losing his vulnerable side.
- Candy Yuen as Monica, a client who alters Fung’s world.
- Jeana Ho as Chloe, Fungs’ girlfriend, who tries to stabilize him.
- Iris Chung as one of Fung’s forever fans.
The performances of the cast heighten the film, as the sexual parts are naturally fused with other emotional elements.
IMDb Ratings
The film has an IMDb score of 5.0/10, which is fair considering the reviews. While some people thought it was daring and gave insight into the life of a gigolo, others were not impressed by the slow pace and excessive focus on sex.
Personal Insights
The Gigolo explores the life of a profession that is usually not portrayed, offering a seductive yet critical viewpoint. This film manages to portray both the seductiveness and the dark side of the trade in a way that does justice to the emotional conflict of its main character. Fung’s character as played by Dominic Ho is plausible and fleshed out allowing the audience to relate to his plight through out the film – interesting considering the risqué theme.
On the other hand, the film fully increases its concentration on the actual sex scenes to the detriment of its deeper meaning. Nevertheless, it provides an interesting perspective, an offbeat lifestyle, and makes one think about the self, the ethics of the self, and the price of living life by oneself.
Cultural Significance
The work, though a work of fantasy yet has relevant content – everyone deserves love and understanding. What is striking, for example, in the movie “The Gigolo” is that the director discusses the topic of sex work while analyzing the views of society by dares to tell the story of one of the sex workers. In a society that has been rapidly changing and migrated from a modest view of sexuality towards more modern outlook.
The film covers another crucial part of the ethics of sex work. Utilizing entertainment and glam as a way to overlook the ugly parts of a profession. All components are blended harmoniously and each serves a completely clear and understandable purpose that sways during the movie but the overall intentions remain unchanged.