My take on this film is that like "Lost in Translation" it turns an Oriental mirror on Western Capitalism - with a deliberately and crassly exaggerated lack of common decencies under the system. Evelyn Waugh's black comedy "The Loved One" (set in the Californian funeral industry) came to mind as a possible inspiration for the author. It is an intelligent (even intellectual) look at our expectations of each other in times of crisis - and our ultimate needs therein, too. Our hero, YoYo, is a cinematographer engaged by the beautiful Chinese-American personal assistant to a famous, ageing U.S. international director for the "making-of ..." puff piece to the main film - a remake of "The Last Emperor" without the sympathetic vibe toward the central character Bertolucci put into his film. Despite her best attempts to keep YoYo under thumb and at arm's length from his subject, the two men strike up a philosophical rapport which has its catharsis when YoYo is present and his camera rolling as the big shot has a severe collapse. It is agreed by those around him that he has been designated to organise a comedic funeral by the soon-to-be deceased. What ensues - especially when it becomes clear that the estate is bankrupt - is a peculiarly Chinese Modern social comedy funeral which is strung out in the press for entertainment value - much to the amusement of the recovering big shot.
Review of Big Shot's Funeral
