Movie spotlight
Striking Back
With his complexly plotted feature-film debut, shot entirely in widescreen black and white, Taiwanese director Fu Shan-Fong has created an often hilarious satire of filmmaking in Taiwan and a parody of cinema cliches resulting from the attempts of a group of hot young advertising executives to make a major motion picture. Each of the would-be filmmakers tends to make commercials that pay tribute to their favorite movie directors (who range from Ingmar Bergman to John Woo), and all are eager to realize their dream of making an art film. At first, the group faces so many obstacles the director kills himself in despair. Shortly thereafter they find a backer who unfortunately insists they make a Hollywood-style action thriller about Mafia arms smugglers called "Striking Back." Scenes from the investor's dream movie periodically appear throughout the story, and Shan-Fong uses them to parody Asian cinema's tendency to imitate and elaborate upon Western movie conventions.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1962 Argentina, a young man named Daniel is investigating the disappearance of his brother, who was a political activist. His investigation leads him to uncover a web of conspiracy and betrayal, involving powerful figures and hidden agendas. As Daniel delves deeper, he must confront the dangerous realities of his country's political climate and the sacrifices required for truth.
Critical Reception
Striking Back (El Ardor) received a mixed to positive reception from critics, with praise often directed at its atmospheric tension and the performances of its cast. Some critics found the plot occasionally convoluted, but generally appreciated its exploration of political intrigue and personal struggle within a specific historical context. Audience reception was generally favorable, appreciating the film's suspenseful narrative.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its atmospheric and suspenseful portrayal of political intrigue.
Appreciated for strong performances, particularly by the lead actors.
Some found the narrative pacing and plot development to be uneven at times.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews and their sentiment analysis for 'Striking Back (1998)' is not readily available in public databases.
Fun Fact
The film was originally titled 'El Ardor' in Spanish, which translates to 'The Burning' or 'The Ardor'.
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