Tape
An adaptation of Richard Linklater’s 2001 film of the same name, Tape sees two high school friends reunite 15 years after graduation. Jon (Kenny Kwan) is now a burgeoning filmmaker who has a low-budget project screening at a major festival, while Wing (Adam Pak) is a drug dealer with no responsibilities or sense of direction. However, it’s not long before their friendly conversation takes a darker turn when a past incident involving Wing’s high school girlfriend, Amy (Selena Lee), is dredged back to the surface. As the dialogue navigates between talking points, filmmaker Binzhan Tong eloquently explores themes of guilt, power and trauma in this superbly performed feature.
Set almost entirely within Wing’s Hong Kong Airbnb, the performances of the three leads are what drive this film forward. Both Kwan and Pak are sensational. From the moment Jon arrives at the front door, dressed sharply in a stylish suit jacket, the years of friendship between the pair are palpable in their interactions. They tease each other, speak bluntly, and know each other well enough to be able to tell when the other is lying. It’s a recipe that makes for tense confrontations as their conversations simmer and boil over.
The situation only becomes more complex and uncomfortable when Amy later arrives on the scene. She has a different view of that night’s events and challenges both men’s recollections. It’s a pivotal scene in which power changes hands, allowing the script to widen its scope to examine broader societal issues surrounding gender. Lee gives what is perhaps the best performance of the feature, delivering some of the most poignant lines. Tong is eager to show her as a character who is just as fleshed out as the men who have been talking about her as if she were a prize to be won.
The minimalist setting helps to establish a strong sense of place. The apartment begins to feel smaller as the exchange between the former classmates becomes more heated. As wonderfully crafted as this adaptation is, the dialogue has a habit of becoming repetitive. A lot of scenes consist of characters repeating questions and retracing old territory, which consequently causes the pacing to drag at points.
Led by incredible performances, Tong brings Linklater’s film to a new generation of audience.
Andrew Murray
Tape is released nationwide on 19th September 2025.
Watch the trailer for Tape here:
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