Set in a little restaurant in an inconspicuous lane of Shanghai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai (“Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong”) makes his directorial debut and plays the leading role of a man who makes a set of special food for each guest who visits the restaurant and listens to everyone’s story.
A peaceful chef and his small diner serve all people who step into this establishment. This chef creates a personalized dish specially made for each patron without asking for an order. He simply listens to their stories and offers small nuggets of wisdom whilst anticipating their favorite meals. Many people pass through the Midnight Diner and sometimes never return but those who do return will always be welcomed with a seat and a fresh meal.
“Midnight Diner” feels like a Twilight Zone location without the cynical or dystopic qualities that ruin the visitor’s experience. A small diner hidden in the alleyways of Shanghai that welcomes any and all who find it. This diner creates a haven of misfits and ‘others’ who have stumbled on the path of life. The director and lead of the film, Tony Leung Ka-fai really takes advantage of this diner’s ability to tell so many stories by surrounding himself with so many interesting characters. As we progress through the movie, we are introduced and allowed into the lives of these late-night patrons. Some thrive while others perish but still the Midnight Diner is always a place to come for a comforting meal and conversation.
The ability to embody the story of so many characters lends itself more to an episodic style of storytelling than a feature-length film. With so many stories to tell and to get through, the passage of time can become confusing as we jump from event to event for the sake of finishing each story arc. Story after story, I found myself waiting to be shown the connecting thread that bound these people, aside from walking into the diner. Each character arc was emotionally charged and intriguing but felt disjointed to group together in this film. This is also not surprising with this iteration being one of many interpretations of this story but director Tony Leung Ka-fai really grounds himself not only in his own performance but in his casting and story selections. I encourage anyone who enjoys anthological stories to take a chance on this film and if not, the food shots are worth your time for sure.
Available on Blu-ray™ August 17th
