Tian Tian (Liu Haocun) and Fang Di (Vicky Chen) share a bond closer than they’ve had with anyone since childhood. As cousins, the two always considered themselves to be more like sisters, having especially relied on each other through the hardest of times. Much of that hardship stems from the dysfunctional family they share, much ado with parents drowning in debt, including a father staring down a bottomless drug habit.
Writer and director Vivian Qu proffers audiences a compelling setup here for her latest melodrama, Girls On Wire, which spends most of its two-hour runtime between flashbacks to piece together the unnerving events of the lives of both our protagonists. The film is apt to start, however, with an opening shot of Tian Tian running, and ultimately fighting her way out of a drug den before venturing to “Film City” where Feng Di is a stunt performer struggling with her own personal woes, including an incompetent and fickle director who would rather have her shoot a water scene on wirework in the cold of night instead of a studio as initially thought.
As the film progresses, the reunion is bittersweet as Feng Di doesn’t want much to do with Tian Tian. Little do they know though that “Madam Yang,” the same mafiosa that’s owned their family for years, is now after them for more than just debt recompense. As the gangsters close in, it’s a matter of time before Feng Di finally realizes that Tian Tian is a victim rather than a volunteer, now facing a new battle to help Tian Tian overcome not only a serious case of withdrawal, but the enemies in their wake.
Girls On Wire boasts some terrific performances, with both actress taking on a role with their own physical challenges. It’s also interesting seeing Chen play a stunt woman, effectively doing stunts that contribute to her character.
What falls a little bit in the cracks going forward are just a few key aspects through the story. The fallout our two heroines mention doesn’t merit as much animosity as what’s presented, and what Qu efforts to convey as we learn more about Tian Tian’s struggle feels more like unintended plot-holing in the long haul. Between this and the film’s finish, the seemingly intended tragic effect is there, but the preamble for it is merely suggestive and never quite brought full-circle.
Qu does manage to weave some comedy into frame to balance out the film’s moody tone thanks to a trio of the film’s co-stars; two gangsters working for the faceless “Yang,” and a hapless restaurant owner being forced to assist them against his will. The film sees them try to sneak their way into “Film City” while looking for Feng Di only to end up in bit roles in the process. Shit is hilarious.
The film’s big finish lends a sanguine top-off to a core trait of the film’s overall character development. To its credit, Girls On Wire is a hearty, intense drama that bites off a little more than it can chew, but still delivers at a thrilling pace for much of the way with gritty, noir allure, and stars that easily warrant attention.
Girls On Wire enjoyed its North American Premiere for the 24th edition of the New York Asian Film Festival.