Ba delivers a moving story that dances in the otherworldly but keeps its feet grounded in the day-to-day of living and providing.
Ba, playing at Screamfest, is a beautiful yet sad story about family and hardships that uses a fantastical premise to showcase the desperation and tragedy of survival in a capitalist world. Light on effects, the film heavily relies on the performance of its cast to convey it all. Fortunately, they do a magnificent job. The father and daughter core turn out outstanding performances. They tug at the emotions and, though supernatural, have an aspect firmly rooted in reality. Ba delivers a moving story that dances in the otherworldly but keeps its feet grounded in the day-to-day of living and providing.
Written and directed by Benjamin Wong, the feature debut clocks in at 79-minute runtime and feels swift and concise with its story and point. A struggling single father, Danny, played by Lawrence Kao (Wu Assassins, Walker: Independence), finds himself working as the Grim Reaper. Meanwhile, his daughter, Collette, played Kai Cech (American Girl: Corinne Tan), struggles with the change and tries to find out what her father does. The film makes dancing a focal point of the connection between father and daughter, showcasing their affection as they discuss some of the greatest dancers, including shouting out artists like Asian-American Tony Tran and Mike Song.
Ba Highlights Capitalism and Its Death Grip on Society
It’s uncertain which is worse—capitalism existing in the supernatural world or the fact that, for many, capitalism and exploitation are inescapable. So, creators put them in the paranormal world. Hence, why Ba feels much more real despite Danny’s status as Death. While living in his car with Collette and their small dog, he spies an unattended duffel with money. But when he sees the note inside cautioning about a contract if you take the cash, Danny wisely puts the duffel back. However, desperation soon grips him. So, he takes the bag. Now, he is stuck as a Grim Reaper, complete with a skeletal head. To return to normal, he must pay four times what he took.
That’s the epitome of capitalism and financial debt, such as student loans for many. It’s why even supernatural films showcase the capitalistic grind. It feels inescapable. The movie brings it alive with a naturalness that roots everything inside a believable relationship between father and daughter. While showing single parents’ hardships, it focuses it more, making it an Asian-American tale of struggle meeting the paranormal.
Great Performances Cement The Emotional Pull
It’s a compellingly familiar nature of struggling to pay off debt while supporting yourself and a child. Plus, Ba crafts a strong connection thanks to the acting from Lawrence Kao and Kai Cech. The hurdles they encounter would not resonate as deeply without their warm affection. Lawrence Kao delivers as a caring, affectionate dad. He cheers his daughter on and tries to make up for Collette’s mother abandoning her. Kai Cech’s performance shows children’s transformation when removed from a parent. It’s a hypocritical system that removes a child from a financially struggling parent only to pay a stranger to take care of said child.
Ba is not a film that emphasizes laughter. There are sweet moments of love and care between the leads. Plus, it uses an otherworldly tale to highlight aspects of society that are counterintuitive to aid. It shows financial hardship and single parent struggles, and even arguably demonstrates how threatened people feel when you’re covered from head to toe. Underneath, Ba is a beautiful story about a father who would do anything to be there for his child. Benjamin Wong is a director to look out for. He crafted an impactful tale that did not need all the pomp and circumstance to be meaningful.
