Rebels of the Neon God

A young man named Hsiao Kang (Chinese: 小康; lit. ‘Little Kang’, deriving his nickname from the actor Lee Kang-sheng) goes through the motions of life, attending cram school while living with his parents. In a distinct but intertwining storyline, petty thieves Tze and Ping navigate their chaotic lives. Following a night out, Tze returns to discover that his apartment has flooded. The following day, he encounters Kuei, a young woman disoriented after a one-night stand with Ah Tze’s brother, a car salesman, in the adjacent room. Oblivious to her whereabouts, Kuei accepts a ride from Tze on his motorcycle. Meanwhile, Hsiao Kang faces a setback when his motorcycle gets impounded. His father, who drives a taxi, spots him and provides a ride to school. An accident occurs during this journey when Tze purposefully breaks off the side mirror of Hsiao Kang’s father’s taxi.

As night falls, Tze, Ping, and Kuei gather for some fun, indulging in drinks until Kuei eventually passes out. The two men, instead of looking after her, leave her alone in a hotel room. The next morning, Kuei reaches out to Tze, wanting to meet him again. In another turn of events, Hsiao Kang decides to drop out of school and successfully claims a refund. Opting to stay out rather than return home, he subsequently encounters Tze and begins to follow him.

In a twist of fate, Hsiao Kang witnesses Tze and Ping committing theft at an arcade, as they dismantle machines for motherboards. Tze then meets with Kuei, who expresses her frustration about him standing her up. Their relationship escalates as they get a hotel room together and become intimate. Meanwhile, Hsiao Kang, fueled by frustration, finds Tze’s motorcycle and vandalizes it. When he finally attempts to return home after a few days away, he is rejected by his parents, who are upset over his school dropout status. Finding refuge in the same hotel where Tze and Kuei spent the night, Hsiao Kang revels in the irony of Tze discovering his damaged bike.

Later, Tze and Ping attempt to sell the stolen motherboards to an arcade owner, only to be confronted by angry men, leading to a violent altercation where Ping is beaten. That night, Tze fortuitously takes Hsiao Kang’s father’s taxi back home, bringing a wounded Ping along. Kuei unexpectedly arrives and expresses her desire to leave with Tze, prompting a tender embrace between the two. Meanwhile, Hsiao Kang’s father returns home, unwittingly leaving the apartment door slightly open. In a moment of indecisiveness, Hsiao Kang visits a phone dating service but ultimately does not engage with any callers, opting to leave after a few uneventful minutes.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 16:19