Claustrophobia

Just like every evening, Tom, the manager of an import/export company, drives his employees home. But when he and Pearl, a young marketing secretary, are the only ones left in the car it becomes evident that these two share more than a business relationship. Tom declares that he wants to end their relationship and recommends Pearl to seek a position at another company, something she just cannot accept.

Unfolding backwards over the course of a year - from the bitter end to the first encounters - the real drama taking place between the lines, we are left to determine the extent of the affair and only indirect conclusions can be drawn about the characters' inner feelings. Ostensibly unimportant details turn out to be elusive clues about the history of Tom and Pearl, with seemingly banal interactions and exchanges oozing with suppressed passion.

Making her directorial debut with "Claustrophobia", prolific Hong Kong scriptwriter Ivy Ho skillfully explores the hardships and ironies of unspoken corporate romance in this taut, underplayed drama.
RICKARD FORSMAN

Cast
Ekin Cheng, Kar Yan Lam, Eric Tsang: Producer
Cary Cheng, William Kong, Chung Man Yee: Script
Ivy Ho: Cinematography
Pin Bing Lee: Music
Anthony Chue: Spoken language
Cantonese: Subtitle
English