In many ways, “My Prince Edward” reminds me of the 2012 independent film – Frances Ha, since it has a similar identity if not the same level of exuberance as the American one. It is driven by a similar personality as the prior. With a refusal to grow-up, the lead characters in both the cases live in a state of denial – without completely acknowledging their immaturity. Still, both of them struggle to get out of the mundane routines of their lives. It is a skill to keep one interested in their flawed personalities that get shadowed by an undeniable gloominess. Norris achieves it just as well as Noah, despite a different approach.

“My Prince Edward” is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

‘My Prince Edward’ is about a woman named Fong who is in her late twenties. She works as a clerk in Golden Plaza, a shopping mall from Hong Kong – known mostly for its bridal shops and considerably cheap products. At this place, she has been working along with Edward – who is the owner of a wedding photography shop there. Due to this, most of the people around start perceiving them as a couple, forcing an idea of him being an ideal ‘prince charming’ for Fong. But she hardly seems interested in him or interested in particularly anything. Most of the time, she is lost in her own thoughts or worries. At least it appears to be like that. She hasn’t quite figured out what she wants to do with her life.

And while living in an Asian society, Fong is pressured to get married as early as possible – as if marriages are illegal after a certain age. She doesn’t want to take such a big decision at the time. It is not like she does not like Edward, but she is not sure whether she actually likes him either. Being in this constant state of confusion, a contractual relationship is not a good alternative for her. Meanwhile, her past makes it even more complicated. Before ten years or so, she married a mainlander and the related company had promised to provide divorce papers for their sham marriage. Due to the discussions about marrying Edward, she tries to find the same. The later proceedings make her choose her own fate – something that she is not used to taking control of.

Throughout the duration, ‘My Prince Edward’ follows Fong’s journey with a restrained approach. It never goes overboard with the dramatic sequences. And this female character is given room to breathe and live with her flaws, without blaming her for any of that. The narrative does not try to show her guilt for laziness and rather portrays her flaws with compassion. After all, these shortcomings are what makes one human. The film completely realizes that and gives an empathetic tale about this unambitious young woman.

While showing the posters of “Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind” and a few Jim Jarmusch films, director Norris Wong makes her character’s laidback lifestyle even more relatable. Art comes as an absolute comfort for those who have lost their way or cannot seem to find one. The miserable protagonist, in this case, is a female- which constructs the entire gender-dynamic with an interesting approach. There is no casual regressive lookout. As Fong says to her lesbian friend, Edward is even more feminine than her. He is much more excited about a fancy wedding whereas her concern is largely to get her life somehow on track. While it is not particularly revolutionary, “My Prince Edward” emerges as a much more refreshing coming-of-age tale than many contemporary films from the genre, as a result of that.

And all of this is further helped by Stephy Tang’s natural performance as Fong. The childlike innocence required for her role is present, but she never tries to mock the character. There is a constant sense of unease of her not being comfortable being in her own skin. That shows the years that her character may have spent with this dispirited demeanor. That maturity in her acting is what makes her performance stick to your senses – while being a person who would rather wish to be the part of the flock. And the sublime cinematography makes it even better.