There have been a number of films mentioning or even focusing on the consequences of MMORPG games have on their players, and particularly the danger of abandoning real life for the sake of the digital world. Shih Chun-han takes the concept a step further, by presenting a world where RPG games have become a “legitimate” part of society.

“RPG” is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival

The story takes place in the near future when an AR system named “Nirvana” has reached such a penetration point, that actually dictates everyday life, with people wearing VR glasses in order to be able to participate in the various games and activities constantly. Sonya is a doctor who plays a game where she hunts a mythical creature known as Sawalong with her daughter and son, mostly in an effort to connect with them. The kids, however, seem to have some issues, also resulting from the recent death of their father. The daughter in particular has stopped talking and just communicates through Nirvana, while the son, in an almost desperate effort to find a father figure in his life, “pressures” a man his mother seems to like, to marry her. At the same time, an individual who attacks others through the game appears.

Shih Chun-han directs a film that is split into two intermingling parts. The first one is the presentation of the world where the MMORPG has become an integral part of life. This aspect is well presented and quite impressive occasionally, with the SFX used highlighting the job done in the department. Particularly the battle sequence and the finale are a wonder to behold.

The second is the social commentary, which revolves around the dysfunctions of family and romantic relationships in a world where technology dominates. These comments are presented well, but I felt that the film suffers a bit in the acting, particularly due to the choice of having the cast speaking English for a large part of the movie. I felt that this choice dulled the impact the narrative could have and that particularly Masatoshi Nagase could have been “used” in better fashion. On the other hand, Joanne Yang is quite good in communicating the psychological issues of the daughter without any words. Furthermore, I found the message of hope that closes the film delightful, in an approach that finally does not present the penetration of the digital world as a nightmarish scenario, while the subtle humor that appears here and there (the Murakami joke is a good one) definitely adds to the entertainment the title offers.

“RPG” could have been a bit better with a few different choices here and there, but I feel that Shih Chun-han has the talent to create something very interesting in the same style, with a bigger budget that would also allow him to explore his themes in a longer film.