Film Review – Ballad of a Small Player (2025)

      **Ballad of a Small Player, 2025.**

      Directed by Edward Berger.

      Featuring Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, Tilda Swinton, Deanie Yip Tak-Han, Alex Jennings, Jason Tobin, Adrienne Lau, and Anthony Wong.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      As a high-stakes gambler trying to remain under the radar in Macau faces the repercussions of his past and mounting debts, he meets a kindred spirit who may hold the key to his redemption.

      Director Edward Berger clearly aims to avoid redundancy in his work. *Ballad of a Small Player* marks a significant departure from his evolving filmography, just as *Conclave* was a break from his acclaimed remake of *All Quiet on the Western Front*. This third film, based on a screenplay by Rowan Joffe and the novel by Lawrence Osborne, endeavors to explore the degenerate gambler subgenre in a unique way, probing into the protagonist's psyche to the brink of a psychological breakdown, interspersed with an unexpected supernatural aspect. Unfortunately, it results in a disjointed narrative that is difficult to engage with.

      On the bright side, the film excels technically, featuring striking cinematography by James Friend that vividly captures Macau's vibrant nightlife and the gambling atmosphere, in addition to reflecting Colin Farrell’s Lord Doyle's anxieties. Volker Bertelmann’s consistently loud score further amplifies this ambiance. As for the title, it is one that Doyle has chosen for himself to enhance his perceived status and importance. Although he appears to be living lavishly, gambling greedily night after night, it's all a façade. His supposedly lucky yellow gloves offer no actual fortune, and he’s burdened by such significant debts that he risks deportation back to England. On top of this, he is being hunted and watched by private investigator Blithe (Tilda Swinton), who threatens him with blackmail over his shady history.

      Doyle's challenges extend beyond financial burdens; much of *Ballad of a Small Player* serves as a personal exploration of self. The issue is that, despite Farrell's portrayal of anxiety, breakdowns, and quiet contemplation, it doesn't provide a compelling examination of identity. This is compounded by the superficial supernatural elements, which likely hold deeper significance in the novel. In this adaptation, they feel awkward and could have laid the groundwork for a completely different, more engaging film.

      As the narrative unfolds, Lord Doyle forms a connection with a guilt-ridden casino employee named Dao Ming (Fala Chen), who is emotionally drained from witnessing the despair of losers like Doyle himself. Feeling complicit as a dealer, Dao grapples with the ongoing tragedy associated with gambling. A film that critically examines the moral complexities surrounding gambling, particularly from the perspective of those who feel guilt about participating, could have offered a more compelling narrative than another man's downward spiral. Instead, Dao develops a tenuous friendship that flirts with romance with Lord Doyle, becoming yet another character to whom he promises to repay his debts (her own backstory is marked by tragedy). From there, the film increasingly portrays her character as a mere prop to support his journey.

      At the very least, *Ballad of a Small Player* features a few tense baccarat scenes that capture the high-stakes anxiety of gambling (the camera captures every minute detail as Doyle, visibly rattled, reveals his cards), while attempting to weave in fascinating elements of Chinese mythology and customs to form the film's moral fiber. A viewer at home on Netflix might be tempted to travel to Macau or visit a local casino, both of which sound like a more appealing use of time than this film. Ultimately, it exemplifies the challenge of distilling multiple ideas from a novel into a cohesive narrative. While one can appreciate Edward Berger’s technical achievements with his trusted collaborators, the story here is a disappointing outcome.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder