I Don't Want to Sleep Alone

Taiwan-based filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang (The River, What Time Is It There?) travels to his native Malaysia for this moody and compelling drama about an unlikely bisexual love triangle in a shabby corner of Kuala Lumpur. A badly-beaten drifter (Lee Kang-sheng) is discovered by a Bangladeshi migrant worker (Norman Atun), who brings him to his residence—an abandoned building where many of the city's illegal immigrants seek shelter—and while nursing the injured man back to health, falls in love with him. Also living in the building is a frustrated waitress (Chen Shiang-chyi)—doubling as a caregiver for her employer's paralyzed and comatose adult son (also played by Lee)—who eventually catches the drifter's eye. The polyglot dialogue is kept to a minimum, but even though the two central male characters do not share the same language, the depth of their relationship can be measured without words. As usual, Tsai underplays the action, forcing the viewer to slowly piece together the intricate pieces of his puzzle, which will challenge viewers unfamiliar with the filmmaker's canon (admittedly, Tsai's work takes a bit of patience). But those willing to stick with this intriguing and provocative emotional drama will be rewarded. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)