On some level, it is refreshing to note that catfishing isn’t just a thing in the United States. I’m used to thinking of my country as entirely replete with suckers. Heck, we voted for Trump … twice! Nothing says, “SUCKER!!” quite like that. And yet, for all the United States has perfected lying, as a nation it is hardly unique in selling lemons.
Today’s picture is Love Lies, an exposé on the mechanics of catfishing (i.e. manipulating romantic feelings based on false information). The particular catfishing mechanism here is a Hong Kong based dating app scam factory. Joe Lee (MC Cheung Tin-fu), a very young man with a smidge of ambition, is recruited by the web site for his somewhat elusive relationship with the truth. “I like your style, kid.” Sure, Lee has to be shown the ropes; in addition to knowing the basics of his job, he needs a romance coach to woo potential victims.
Posing as “Alain,” a French engineer, Lee attracts love-forsaken and romance-weary gynecologist Dr. Veronica Yu (Sandra Ng). And this is the part where the film succeeds, for even as we know Yu is being scammed, we cannot help but notice that her life has improved. After all, if there is a better feeling than being in love, I have yet to find it. And here, through a silly and fraudulent dating app, Yu has found love.
Does it matter that it is all a scam?
Yes, sadly, it probably does. The thing is, catfishing or no, what Yu feels is real and it does improve her life. What is the price of that? And does that feeling
magically disappear the same way it entered once she realizes none of it is real?
Love Lies is a surprisingly deep film, getting us both to sympathize with the scam and loathe it at the same time. Personally, I think that every person on the planet should experience romantic love at least once in their lives. Does it matter that it comes from an app? Does it matter if it’s not real? Love Lies seems to answer, “It doesn’t matter as much as you think it does.” Or maybe gaslighting the audience is the final bit of catfishing the film offers.
There once was a Doctor named Yu
Who knew a frustration or two
Yet she found the fun
With a dashing French hon
Does it matter that her connection is untrue?
Not Rated, 114 Minutes
Director: Miu-Kei Ho
Writer: Hing-Ka Chan, Miu-Kei Ho
Genre: Eastern catfishing
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Skeptics
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Romantics
