Save My Soul | 我是貓

Goal 參與目標
Festival Screening, Develop into a Feature
電影節放映、發展成長片

Logline 故事摘要
A mute wanderer, homeless and alone, meets a blind man smitten with cats. The man, who feeds every stray in the valley, extends an invitation to the former, offering a potential home.
無家可歸的啞巴在荒野流浪，遇上一個愛貓成癡的盲人。盲人樂此不疲餵飼村落裡每一隻流浪貓，啞巴從中看到被收養回家的契機……

Synopsis 故事大綱
Weary of discrimination, a young mute seeks a new life in a valley. But wilderness living proves harsh, with survival a daily struggle. Inspiration strikes when he encounters cats fed by a blind man. Envisioning a life as a feline, the mute finds refuge in the man’s home. Cuddled in the man’s bed, the mute experiences newfound tenderness and momentarily, forgets his true identity. All that matters is their need for each other – a feeling he has never known before.

年少的啞巴受夠了來自他人的歧視和冷落，試圖在一處山谷展開新生。置身荒野，他方發現原始的生活也並不好過，單是覓食一環已把他難到。對比溪流和香蕉樹，他從流浪貓身上受到更大的啓發。牠們竟可不愁吃喝，每天就等一位盲老人來餵飼。眼見盲人的恩寵惠及山谷每一隻貓，啞巴忽發奇想：假如我是貓……他果真得到盲人邀請，被引至他的屋舍熱情款待。從俯伏盲人腳邊，跳到床上，再被他寬大的手時而溫柔時而著緊地撫摸——在那逐漸升溫的空間，啞巴覺得他飾演一隻貓傳神與否已然不重要，甚至乎盲人其實會否看得見亦毋用深究。此刻，他只知道他們彼此需要對方。對啞巴而言，那是畢生前所未有的美妙感覺。

Director’s Statement 導演闡述
The story’s inspiration came from two phenomena. Firstly, a friend of mine adopted an affectionate cat that loved to lift its bottom high and be petted all day long. Secondly, I came across information about pederasty in ancient Greece. It referred to a relationship between an older man and a boy that was recognised and even idealised in society at that time. The former imparted his knowledge and skills, while the latter reciprocated with a promise of physical affection and love.
Both illustrate the beauty and naturalness of intimate behaviour between individuals who share trust and fondness. Yet, such moments are fleeting and are now criticised. The film seeks to preserve these moments, allowing viewers to appreciate and experience intimacy from a safe distance.

故事概念源於兩個現象。首先，朋友飼養新貓，此貓極愛蹭人，整天把臀部翹得高高要他拍打。貓咪固然享受，主人也是樂此不疲。另外則是讀到有關古希臘少年愛的資料。所指的是獲當時社會承認甚至理想化的一種年長男性與少年的關係，前者傳授自己的知識與技能，而後者則回報肉體與愛情的承諾。
兩件事皆説明了一點：具有足夠的信任或好感的前提下，個體之間的親密行為自然不過。如此美麗卻短瞬，還可能被受道德批判的情形，以電影為它封存，讓更多人能夠在安全的距離下感受和欣賞不是很合適嗎？

LEUNG Kam Fai 梁錦輝
LEUNG studied economics, but his true calling is in film. He started as an intern under acclaimed director CHEUNG Chi-leung, Jacob. His short The Captive and the Fugitive tells the story of a couple who make a film that doesn’t follow conventions. The latest work, Save My Soul is a story about a mute person who transforms due to loneliness.

大學修讀經濟，電影才是志業。從跟隨張之亮導演實習開始，待過不同崗位。短片作品《到底荒唐》講述一對男女不依循常規地拍攝電影。新作《我是貓》則是一個啞巴抵受不住孤獨而「變形」的故事，接近後製尾聲。

LAU Chi Fan 劉芝藩
Graduated from the City University of Hong Kong with a degree in Creative Media and won the Best Fictional Film Award for The Smokies, LAU has worked in visual effects coordination, the art department, and is now an advertising director. She is committed to becoming a film director.

畢業於城市大學創意媒體系，短片《餘煙》獲最佳劇情片獎項並於影展展出。先後從事電影美術工作及視覺特效統籌，現為廣告導演。致力運用過往前中後期製作之經驗開拓自己的電影事業。

 

Film Unit / Production Company 影像單位 / 製作公司
Handover Film 回歸電影
We don’t know what kind of films we want to return to, nor do we believe that filmmaking can be handed over to just anyone. We advocate for a lightweight approach to film production which aims to make the process of creating films more universal and less constrained. Our loose structure brings together a small group of members who happen to have the potential to be directors.

不知要回歸怎樣的電影，也不以為電影可交托予誰。只是一個主張電影製作輕盈化的單位。所謂的輕盈化，是要讓電影創作變得更普遍，更不受約束。鬆散的結構勾連成員幾個，剛好都是能當導演的人。