Movie Review: Aleksandra Szczepanowska’s ‘Touch’ with lust and fatal attraction!

At the centre of the story is Fei Fei (Aleksandra Szczepanowska) an American teaching dance in China. She is married to a successful local businessman with a dark past and together they have a son. Their marriage is strained by issues regarding Fei Fei’s failure to secure her Chinese citizenship. Her husband (Yanh Jun) appears not to be bothered by this and that seems to strain their marriage further.

The film starts off as a typical family drama with hints of romance. At least until Fei Fei encounters a blind masseur (Yuan Jiangwei). Intrigued by him, she visits the massage parlour perhaps to satisfy her curiosity. The story then morphs into a sensual thriller once Fei Fei and the masseur start to develop affection for each other after a couple of sessions.

Aleksandra Szczepanowska & Yanh Jun in Touch (2020)

Fei Fei is intrigued by him and how he touches her. Bai Yu also gets infatuated by her mystery and affection which later leads to him getting overly obsessed.

You can’t blame Fei Fei for seeking some excitement outside her marital home. Which married unhappy person wouldn’t? Things get intense for her quick until her husband begins to figure it all.

‘Touch‘ even as a dramatic thriller finds a way to feel ‘sexy and sensual in a weird almost disturbing way. Maybe it is the idea of a blind masseur who certainly knows her to use his hands that is enough to keep the viewer excited. Even when it gets dark and very intense you can’t help but be sucked in waiting to get more excitement out of the awkward relationship fatal attraction between Fei Fei and Bai Yu.

It all begins to get creepy in the third act. Bai Yu gets around with the help of a cane but surprisingly he can show up in some places Fei Fei least expects to see him. Honestly, several moments would leave you doubting if he is indeed blind. That adds up to the mystery and the psychological drama that would leave you glued to your seat through this film.

Szczepanowska stands out well as the leading woman in this film. She doesn’t appear like a newcomer and her performance seems to hold the entire film together. She shows confidence and knowledge of her craft in this film. As a writer, director and lead character, she excels in bringing everyone else along with her sharing the screen and the spotlight evenly with her co-stars. She is certainly on my radar now and I would be looking forward to her next film.

Aleksandra Szczepanowska & Yuan Jiangwei in Touch (2020)

The visuals are most bright and colourful but there are some occasional blur and fuzzy frames possibly intended to represent the mental state of confusion and unhinged anxiety the viewer shares in as well.

You can’t also help but question some of the actions and decisions of the married couple. After all, their issues are not fully explained even at the climax. There are secrets from her husband’s past that we never get to know and how that contributes to their marital problems. All of our attention is taken by the steamy affair and the complications that come out of it.

By its end ‘Touch‘ picks up an unusual tone delivering a message that might be lost on many.  I would rate this film. It is enough to keep you glued to your seats serving a well-mixed cocktail of drama, romance and thrill elements all held together by an above-average performance from a female lead. ‘Touch‘ is a well-built thriller with intense drama that leaves you glued to your seat right through to the end. But the screenplay gets a bit confusing at times as you are not immediately able to differentiate between what’s real and what appears to be Fei Fei‘s imagination.

Yuan Jiangwei in Touch (2020)

You can’t also help but question some of the actions and decisions of the married couple. After all, their issues are not fully explained even at the climax. There are secrets from her husband’s past that we never get to know and how that contributes to their marital problems. All of our attention is taken by the steamy affair and the complications that come out of it.

By its end ‘Touch‘ picks up an unusual tone delivering a message that might be lost on many.  I would rate this film 6.5/10. It is enough to keep you glued to your seats serving a well-mixed cocktail of drama, romance and thrill elements all held together by an above-average performance from a female lead.

You too can watch Touch online via Laemmle Virtual Theaters in the US from Friday 28th May 2021.