Ah Jie lost everything in the stock market due to a severe economic crisis. He spends his days in his sealed apartment, smoking joints and looking after the marijuana plants that he secretly grows in his wardrobe. In desperation, he calls a suicide helpline and gets to know Chyi, whose sweet and gentle voice causes him to fall in love with his fantasised image of her. He tries to ask her out but is repeatedly rejected. He begins projecting his fantasy of Chyi on Shin, the new girl working at the betel nut stall downstairs.

Those familiar with the works of Tsai Ming Liang will be well-acquainted with Lee Kang Sheng, who plays the lead in every one of Tsai's movies. When Lee made his directorial debut with "The Missing" in 2003, it was no surprise that the movie was in the same vein as most of Tsai Ming Liang's films, made in a certain distinct style - subdued, grim - with minimal dialogue and plenty of sex.

His second film, "Help Me Eros" is no exception. Set in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, this film tells the story of Ah Jie, a character played by Lee himself, who has lost everything at the stock market, and is becoming increasingly depressed. He spends time nurturing the marijuana plants he secretly grows in a wardrobe and smoking joints. His despair drives him to call a suicide helpline, where he became attached to his helpline counsellor, Chyi.

They soon begin chatting over the Internet at a personal level, partly due to his frequent declaration of suicidal intent. Unknown to him, Chyi is an overweight and sexually frustrated woman whose husband feeds her with fattening exotic cuisine every day and keeps her at a distance. The rejection and desperation in Chyi leaves her enjoying the attention she gets from Ah Jie. Ah Jie projects his fantasies of Chyi on the betel nut girl tending the betel nut stall below his apartment. Always in scanty clothes and gliding down poles, Shin (Ivy Yi of Taiwan's F4 Girls fame) and Ah Jie crossed paths one night the two spent seeking thrills in Ah Jie's former sports car, racing down the streets and getting intoxicated with marijuana. Their relationship soon became highly sexual. Some would argue that the explicit scenes were too much and almost unnecessary, but it also seems intentional and added in with a sense of humour.

As his situation becomes more critical, Ah Jie begins selling his designer furniture for living expenses and finally leaving it to chance by buying a lot of lottery tickets. While the reality of his life plunges into a downward spiral, his marijuana plants offer him a glimmer of hope, where he indulges in his fantasy and his sexual escapades with a few other betel nut girls, portrayed in a few enthralling dreamlike sequences in which the film glorifies drugs and the raunchy culture associated with Taiwan's streets at night.

Much like most of Tsai's works, "Help Me Eros" revolves around an alienated character, living a life of desperation. This story is comparatively simple and easy to relate to, and Lee's depiction of Ah Jie's despair is honest and convincing. His portrayal of a drug user is also candid, as opposed to the usual exaggerations in movies. There is the trademark offbeat humour that is used effectively in this film, as well as thought-provoking moments and bizarre situations.

The chemistry between the characters of Ah Jie and Shin as a couple living on the fringe is excellent. Their relationship progressed in a way that was absurd yet natural. Jane Liao also delivers a performance worthy of mention, in her role as Chyi.

Although known widely as the protege of Tsai's, Lee Kang Sheng has shown again that he possesses something that puts him on par with Tsai, to his credit. This film is highly recommended to fans of Tsai and Lee. Like the exotic dishes shown, the movie is an acquired taste, and is most savoured by those who appreciate it for what it is.