"Wong relies once again on voice-over, but in [Happy Together] its role is somewhat reduced, more conventionally, to providing minimal exposition, as well as the intimate calibration of Yiu-fai's feelings. In the earlier films, the very existence of so much voice-over was a sign of the characters' alienation from one another, but Happy Together actually contains a great deal of dialogue. The alienation remains, but it's shown through the more conventional--and perhaps ore emotionally involving--method of having characters talk to (and scream at) each other." (Brunette, 74)
Before the screening, I introduced Happy Together as a gay film, which cares less about the social-political issues surrounding the notion of homosexuality. In Teo's reading, a debate on whether Happy Together should be categorized as a gay movie was deployed by introducing Edward Lam's critique of the film published in City Entertainment (See Teo 105: "A Man and a (Wo)man"). Teo, having a counter viewpoint from Lam, analyzed the role of our two protagonists by quoting one dialogue between them, and augured that Wong was trying to "parodies the notion of the surrogate woman and the idea of acting like a man" in Happy Together. (Teo 108)
For this week's response, either investigate how dialogue is being used in Happy Together, how it is different/similar to the voice-over in the film and how it contributes to the overall meaning of the film, in consideration of WKW's earlier works or analyze how those dialogues (or other techniques) in Happy Together are adopted to complicate the discourse of homosexuality.
* Happy Together is available on netflix (although not for instant watch). Our library also has a VHS copy with English subtitle aviable at the 4F circulation desk, and there are players right next to it.
[Dialogue 1: Lai gets sicks and sleeps on the sofa. Ho tries to wake him up]
HO: How do you feel?
LAI: Terrible.
HO: You're feverish.
LAI: Of course I am... jogging in that unbearable cold
HO: Didn't know you're so weak... getting sick so easily... Can you get up?
LAI: For what?
HO: Cook something... We haven't eaten for two days!
LAI: Are you cold blooded or what? Asking a sick man to cook for you?
(Lai goes cooking...)
[Dialogue 2: Ho is lying on the bed as Lai sleeps on the sofa. He goes over to the sofa and snuggles up to Lai] (see Teo 108-9)
LAI: Why do you want to sheep here where we're so pressed for space?
HO: Because I like it.
LAI: Don't you think this is too small for us?
HO: No it's comfy.
(Ho gives Lai a bite)
LAI: Ow! Why are you biting me?
HO: I'm hungry.
LAI: Do you want to sleep here on the sofa?
HO: Why?
LAI: Because I'll sleep on the bed then.
HO: Don't go on about it. Just go to sleep.
LAI: Or else you take the bed and I'll sleep on the sofa.
HO: What an old fusspot you are.
(Lai stnads up and gets into the bed. Ho follows, and again tries to snuggle up to Lai)
HO: You are not so heartless, are you?
LAI: We are tight for space.
HO: Not at all
(Ho climbs on top of Lai)
HO: I'll get on top and we'll just sleep like this.
(Ho lies on top, his face digging into Lai's neck)
LAI: So you want to sleep here?
HO: Are you going to be like that?
(Lai pushes him aside and tries to get up)
HO: All right... I'll sleep here. Let's sleep together.
LAI: All right. Go to sleep. But don't you trifle with me.
HO: Who, me? Don't you trifle with me.
(He quickly plants his lips on Lai's cheek)
Give us a kiss! Good night.