4/5 stars
A series of atrocious abuse allegations against the staff of a Hong Kong residential care centre for the disabled form the narrative basis of In Broad Daylight, a clear-eyed drama, based on a true story, about the pursuit of justice through investigative journalism and the heavy price this sometimes entails.
A sense of indignation understandably permeates In Broad Daylight, the bleak second feature of director Lawrence Kan Kwan-chun, whose debut feature was 2013’s When C Goes With G7. It also represents a sharp departure from the cheeky tone of In Geek We Trust, the popular 2021 ViuTV drama series that he directed.
Except that things aren’t what they seem: the ostensibly caring Kay is in fact a tenacious investigative reporter from a newspaper tipped off about the ongoing abuses and Tung, as we subsequently learn, has a far better understanding of his situation than he lets on.
As Kay continues to collect incriminating evidence against the villainous warden (Bowie Lam Bo-yee) and his equally evil nurse (Baby Bo Pui-yu) – both characters border on caricature – she also befriends a pair of mentally disabled residents, memorably played by Rachel Leung Yung-ting and Henick Chou Han-ning.
Should truth and justice be the goals of journalism if it means some innocent parties will inadvertently suffer? If the care home is in such a dire state primarily because of government negligence, are its carers still as culpable? And whose fault is it anyway when people become burdens for others once they grow old?
These questions and more are pondered with a clarity and maturity seldom found in mainstream Hong Kong filmmaking. Kan’s true-life tale is a must-see for any viewer with a social conscience.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
