Superb acting, is usually a sign of good directing.--Review by Jeff Munt from Vancouver

Superb acting, is usually a sign of good directing.   --- Review by Jeff Munt"... I feel its done honestly and passionately. Its not loaded down with cliches. It just gives honest insight into what its like to grow up in Hong Kong, which, as it turns out, isn't all that different from growing up in Canada."This movie represents perfectly what I love about film festivals. Once in a while I'll pick a movie at random. I won't know anything about it, I'll have no expectations and it'll turn out to be a beautiful little gem. Thats exactly what this movie is. A beautiful little gem made by a director who, judging by this film, has great instincts because it doesn't have the usual rookie mistakes that filmmakers often make with their cinematic debuts. It flows well, its beautifully shot, it's intriguing and solid from start to finish. The characters are interesting, dynamic, individually distinct, and full of life. If this movie is any indication, director Heiward Mak has a potentially great cinematic career ahead of her. I look forward to seeing it.

The film follows 7 young boys on the home stretch of their high school years. Normally, a 'coming of age' movie is not something that would appeal to me, probably because most of the time its not done in an interesting way. Here is an example of it done right because I feel its done honestly and passionately. Its not loaded down with cliches. It just gives honest insight into what its like to grow up in Hong Kong, which, as it turns out, isn't all that different from growing up in Canada.

As the story reaches for its climax, it comes to a scene that made the movie for me. It caught me off guard completely and for a those few moments, I was completely enthralled by the movie and totally unaware of anything else around me. Its the build up to that scene (which I don't want to describe as I don't like to discuss plot to avoid spoiling it for others) that makes me truly want to see this movie a second time. Sometimes its hard to rate the acting in a foreign movie as I don't speak the language or understand the culture. However, the reactions of the characters are so believable and sincere, that no matter how detached I am from the language and culture, I can't help but be convinced that the acting is superb. Superb acting, is usually a sign of good directing.

'High Noon' is totally atypical of what I've come to expect from Hong Kong cinema. Its a bit dark and moody and in a lot ways, quite surrealistic. Yet, its rooted enough in its realism that one doesn't get lost in it. Its the perfect balance of the two. Fantastic. The best surprise of film fest.