Dumplings

An ageing film star can't get enough of specialty dumplings whose horrifying secret ingredient has miraculous rejuvenating powers.

Mrs Li (Miriam Yeung), a former actress, begins to suspect her wealthy husband of cheating on her with his much younger masseuse. Hearing of a black-market beauty treatment with amazing de-ageing properties, she seeks out the mysterious Aunt Mei (Bai Ling). Famous for her revitalising dumplings, Mrs Li quickly learns what their horrifying secret ingredient is. Their potent effect, however, keeps her returning for more. When things inevitably go awry, Mrs Li takes drastic steps to maintain her insidious beauty regime.

Curator's note
Expanded from a short that featured as part of the portmanteau horror film Three... Extremes, director Fruit Chan brings into clearer focus the film's darkly satirical dig at China's one-child policy, the cult of youth and his continued exploration of Hong Kong's forgotten class. Originally adapted from Lilian Lee's acclaimed book of the same name, Chan brings to this messed-up folktale an underlying sense of cultural and political anxiety around Hong Kong post-handover. Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle shoots most of the film in unflinching close-up, and the vibrant splashes of colour give proceedings a queasy palette that is equally beautiful and grotesque.