Courtroom dramas have always been popular. TV shows Perry Mason and L.A. Law have continued to be enduring successes. Audiences seem to love the legal system’s pure theatricality with the courtroom a lawyer’s performance space. Such a profession naturally creates genuine suspense which is something Christmas Rose has in spades. Providing more than a few surprises, it’s a high calibre production that continually grips.
Public prosecutor Tim (Aaron Kwok) and defence lawyer Freddy (Xia Yu) work a difficult case. Involving a disabled piano teacher suing her doctor for sexual harassment, its high profile leads to a media frenzy. The men attempt a level of professionalism amongst the fray although their past shared history complicates matters. The case takes its toll and the tension builds as the verdict draws near.
A film about choices and accepting them, Christmas Rose wrings much from its premise. Director Charlie Yeung ensures not a single frame is wasted as he tells a tight and enthralling tale. Having made the switch from being a Defender to Public Prosecutor, Tim learns not everything is black and white. Shades of grey appear in their starkness during the trial with the situation’s reality not so simple. Making this work is the focus on all aspects of the case enabling for full engagement.
Christmas Rose’s best aspect is its well drawn characters. Despite its brevity, the script ensures you understand where their attitudes derive. Their changing loyalties and mind-sets add another intriguing layer to the legal puzzle. Their dogged determination in tearing down the lies and discovering the truth helps in highlighting the human qualities missing in other similar and more melodramatic productions.
Well performed and written, Christmas Rose commands attention. Achieving the best aspects of typical court-room dramas, it’s an engrossing addition to the gallery of lawful fiction.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Rating out of 10: 8
Christmas Rose
When: 11 & 27 September 2013
Where: Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett St, Adelaide
More information: OzAsia Festival website
- The OzAsia Festival runs 13-29 September 2013
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