http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/reviews/view/427277/1/.html
Happily trapped
By Mayo Martin, TODAY | Posted:
06 May 2009 1243 hrs
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RATING: 
SINGAPORE : On the surface, "Claustrophobia" can be summed
up as a light-hearted story about an illicit office romance between
secretary Pearl (played by the lovely Karena Lam) and boss Tom
(Ekin Cheng).
But in the assured, calculated hands of Hong Kong director and
writer Ivy Ho, all the possible dramatic moments are skimmed off
and what we’re left with is the mundane - and it’s an approach
that’s disarmingly effective.
The narrative unravels in reverse episodic moments, giving you a
glimpse into how this relationship came about and grew, while at
the same time introducing you to their colourful colleagues in a
tightly cramped office environment - or inside Tom’s small car
during carpool.
But you won’t be rewarded with an earth-shaking revelation in the
end and there are no full-blown scenes anywhere.
This is more of a grower that leaves a lot to the audience’s
imagination - Lam plays a darling looking lost, but you barely get
to know her. In fact, the movie hardly scratches the surface of all
its characters, but Ho does it so even-handedly and consistently
that it’s almost a challenge for the audience to piece together the
story.
Impatient viewers may feel a sensation of panic or being trapped
watching a film that seemingly goes nowhere and provides no
singular pivotal reward at the end. But we were left feeling a
sense of giddiness that only small, charming day-to-day life
incidents can offer. - TODAY
