Diva takes a peek into the world of showbusiness. Singer J's (Joey Yung) ascent to the top of the Canto-pop world has left her scarred and contemplating giving it all up. Her manager Man (Chapman To) has her suffocating under the rigours of fame and fortune. Man signs newcomer Red (Mag Lam), who is a symbolic reflection of J's path to stardom.
One day, J meets blind masseur Hu Ming (Hu Ge). He's unaware of her diva status, so he's one of the few to treat her like an individual. Soon sparks begin to fly, much to the dismay of Man: J's future as a diva is in jeopardy.
Director Heiward Mak's third feature film is her finest and boldest yet. Clever cuts at crucial moments delay revelation, yet bind key sections of the narrative.
Diva makes harsh comments about producers and showbiz in general. Yet Mak, for the most part, doesn't pull her punches, even if it leads to chatter about similarities to Yung's own career.
Man and the entire industry are established as the villains. But it's a bit too convenient for Man to shed his wolf's clothing near the end, revealing a rare sensitivity.
It seems Mak takes an ambiguous stance (or the easy route) here. Even so, it's still her best film yet.
YP Rating: 4/5