Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
I Miss you When I See You is a drama about two school friends who reconnect after not seeing each other for ten years.
When Jamie (Bryant Ji-Lok Mak) travels to Australia to visit Kevin (Jun Li), who is suffering from depression, it reignites memories of their deep friendship when they were teenagers in Hong Kong. After Jamie returns to China, Kevin does the same. Since Kevin is in need of a job and a place to stay, Jamie has him move into his apartment with him and helps him get a job tutoring English.
As the two men reunite, their feelings for each other resurface. And although neither acts on their attraction, Jamie’s girlfriend, Elaine (Candy Cheung), notices that they could be more than friends. And when one of Kevin’s younger male students shows an interest in him, things get complicated even further. What follows is a story of suppressed emotions and its consequences.
Some Thoughts:
I Miss you When I See You is a subtle movie about the negative effects of homophobia and restrained desire. The entire cast does a great job, but it’s Mak and Li who sell the story. They have chemistry and the ability to express emotion through gestures.
While it’s interesting to watch the plot unfold, we never get invested enough in Kevin to give the film the emotional impact it deserves. Most of this is because the story explores Kevin’s life after his family moves to Australia. How did Kevin handle being away from Jamie? Did he try to forget about Jamie, and did he ever have feelings or sexual desires for other men? Also, when did his depression begin, and how bad was it that he sought professional help?
Despite the movie’s one flaw, the pacing, direction, and cinematography keep things moving enough to hold your attention. There are other aspects of the story, such as Kevin’s relationship with one of his students, that add some depth to the situation. However, I can’t go into them because I don’t want to give anything away.
The Final Verdict:
I Miss you When I See You is a well-paced arthouse drama. The story is subtle, the acting is good, but it lacks the emotional punch a story like this deserves.