Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Directors:

Wayne Wang
Spencer Nakasako (co-director)

Release Date:

24 August 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

A scathing new black comedy from the director of "Dim Sum" and "Chan Is Missing"

Plot:

A man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong...

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Briefcase | Coprophagia | Dark Comedy | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Cheng Wan Kin
Chung Lin
Lieh Lo
Wei Lo
Cora Miao
Spencer Nakasako
Victor Wong
Chien Yu

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1990) | USA:X (original rating: 1990)

Company:

Far East Stars

Trivia:

Wayne Wang's experimental style of guerrilla filmmaking was met with legal consternation by Disney attorneys after Wayne used Mickey Mouse ear caps in a scene as a satirical prop for his scathing commentary on the cultural effects of global capitalism in a pre-emerging China. Subsequently the Disney icons were digitally fogged out of all exhibition prints.

Pure Weirdness

This was one bizarre flick. And yes, that foot chase was so long I was winded watching it. But anyone into "arty" films should definitely check it out. Some of the scenes remind one of the Mondo films from the '60's. This came out in America in that wave of NC-17 films. Wayne Wang is a director who clearly should be better known. The narrative of this film can be a little confusing. Also there are some graphic scenes involving bodily functions. Anyone who has been to Hong Kong might be able to relate slightly. I also enjoyed seeing the late Victor Wong in his brief scenes as a semi-tour guide. Try to catch it in a theater if possible. I own the video but I was able to see it at an art theater in Tokyo as well.