MIFF NOTES: Office 3D (2015, Dir. Johnnie To)

Johnny To's suitably named office-based musical, Office, had a release only recently in 2D but its layers-deep wireframe production design left little doubt that it was always meant to be seen in 3D and MIFF's sessions didn't disappoint. If nothing else, the intricate cleverness of the sets here is enough to absorb. Thankfully there are other aspects that are similarly appealing, as long as you're a fan of off-kilter musicals or Chow Yun-Fat.

Or if you are, like me, ready to convert to the cult of Sylvia Chang (who stars and also wrote).

To's energetic direction and his energetic romantic leads, Zi Yi and Wei Tang (as the Jones & Sunn Corporation's two new assistants), keep the madcappery entertaining as it delves deep into the intricacies of corporate takeovers, financial speculation and the U.S. market collapse.

The music, too, composed by Fai Young Chan and Ta-Yu Lo, keeps the hollow capitalist theming sparky. The pair hold tight to movie musical conventions, which adds a delightfully camp veneer to the workplace banality.

While it is by no means perfect, the exuberance of all involved (especially the fierce-as-fuck CEO played by Chang) and the ridiculous audacity of the premise wipe clean the both the ripeness of its melodramatic moments and the dryness of what's left. Just not sure if it will be enough to have audiences rushing for the original cast recording.

★★★

Trailer:

Office 3D screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.