LAFF Review: 'It's Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong' Is A Light But Immersive Experience

In her debut feature, writer/director Emily Ting demonstrates a preternaturally sure hand over the material, which may have been aided by the fact that the film was inspired by autobiographical events. The female lead of "It's Already Tomorrow In Hong Kong" is a toy designer, an Asian-American in Hong Kong, as was Ting, who mined her personal experiences and knowledge of the city to inform the screenplay. The experience serves her well, as she creates an immersive portrait of Hong Kong alongside a "Before Sunrise"-style romantic tale of ex-pats connecting under the neon lights of the city.

Real-life couple Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg are Ruby and Josh, American ex-pats who meet one night outside a bar. He offers directions to her, which turns into an escort to the bar. Along the way, they chat about life and careers, he gives her the insider view of the city, and she invites him for a drink, blowing off her friends. It’s clear to anyone with eyes that there’s...