Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Film Archive to present “The Kid” and “Fantasies in Reality: A Cinematic Journey” screenings in April
“Restored Treasures – The Kid (1999) (4K Digitally Restored Version) (Hong Kong Premiere)”
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To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the birth of superstar Leslie Cheung, the HKFA will premiere the 4K digitally restored version of “The Kid” (1999) at 7.30pm on April 26 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Amid the sluggish Hong Kong film market in the late 1990s, the director of “The Kid”, Jacob Cheung, worked with various filmmakers to found Creative Alliance, a collective where directors had to raise funds and hire actors personally to produce quality films. At this juncture, Leslie Cheung joined the production of the film with a nominal pay of $1. He also took it upon himself to compose and sing the theme song. To let more audiences witness the superstar’s passion for Hong Kong films, Jacob Cheung funded the 4K digital restoration of the film after more than two decades.
In the film, Leslie Cheung plays the role of a financial elite losing everything during the economic turmoil of the time. At this low point of his life, he finds and adopts an abandoned baby boy. The two become indispensable to each other, like father and son, until the return of the child’s mother, forcing them to make a choice. The film exemplifies Jacob Cheung’s signature blend of arthouse lyricism and realism, reflecting the emotions of Hong Kong people during the financial crisis while offering a tender portrait of a family bond.
The programme will be accompanied by a pre-screening talk by Jacob Cheung with director Joe Cheung, one of the founders of Creative Alliance. Tickets priced at $70 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk
“Fantasies in Reality: A Cinematic Journey”
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“Fantasies in Reality: A Cinematic Journey” will be held from April 25 to June 7, featuring 12 films from different eras under five themes to present the fantasy worlds created by Hong Kong filmmakers with their wild inventiveness and daring special effects.
The screening programme kicks off with the world premiere of “The Spooky Bunch” (1980) (4K digitally restored version). Directed by Ann Hui and starring the film’s producer Josephine Siao, alongside Kenny Bee, Kwan Chung, Lau Hark-suen, Tina Liu and others, the film employs a darkly comedic approach to portray a paranormal adventure of a Cantonese opera troupe in Cheung Chau. With Cantonese opera performances woven into the story, the film blends suspense, hilarity, Cantonese opera culture and local supernatural folk legend. The 4K digitally restored version revives the audio-visual quality of its original theatrical release to bring back the original splendour of this Hong Kong New Wave masterpiece.
Other films include the two Cantonese fantasy period films with the theme “Memories of Light and Shadow”. Starring Cheung Ying, Law Yim-hing, Sek Kin and others, “Ten Brothers” (1959) (2K digital version) visualises the magical powers of the brothers in their journey to rescue their father through double exposures, still frames, and special props. With advanced technology of the time and intensive special effects, “The Magic Cup” (Part One and Concluding Episode) (1961) (2K digital version) tells the story of good triumphing over evil, with Fung Bo-bo as a little girl defeating evil schemes with the help of the Magic Cup Genie, played by Law Yim-hing.
Under the theme “Stories Across Time”, “A Chinese Ghost Story” (1987) (2K digitally restored version) tells a mesmerising love story between a man and a ghost, through the fine acting of Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang respectively, with ingenious special effects and cinematography. Turning a side character in the original myth into the protagonist, played by Maggie Cheung, “Green Snake” (1993) (4K digitally restored version) gives a fresh take on the legendary romance between the White Snake, played by Wang, and her scholar, played by Wu Hsing-kuo, all in a bewitching and beguiling world created with special effects and lighting.
The two films under the theme “The Spooky and the Supernatural” were trendsetting and wildly popular at the time of their original release. Scripted, directed and starred by Sammo Hung, “Encounter of the Spooky Kind” (1980) mixes paranormal and comedic elements with martial arts, pioneering a unique sub-genre in Hong Kong films. Also a Hong Kong film classic, “Mr. Vampire” (1985), starring Lam Ching-ying, Ricky Hui and Chin Siu-ho, in its own distinctive style, weaves together Chinese folklores with legends of bloodsucking ghouls in the West, spawning a fad of vampire films in Hong Kong.
Under the theme “Sci-Fi and Comic Wonders”, the two films presented include “I Love Maria” (1988), in which a former gang member, played by the film’s producer Tsui Hark, is hunted by an android, played by Sally Yeh, in a future world. Anita Mui, Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok present exemplary performances in the contemporary-set swordplay film “Saviour of the Soul” (1991), with the screenplay by Wong Kar-wai and Jeff Lau that brings together elements of Eastern and Western fantasies.
One of the films under the theme “Dreamlike Cityscapes” is “Lavender” (2000). It tells an ethereal and romantic fairytale between a broken-winged angel, played by Takeshi Kaneshiro, and an aromatherapist, played by Kelly Chen. In “Wait ‘Til You’re Older” (2005), directed by Teddy Chen and starring Andy Lau and Karen Mok, a boy takes a stolen potion, which makes him an adult overnight with the caveat of growing old soon after, leaving behind profound ponderings about life.
Some screenings will be accompanied by pre- or post-screening talks, where directors Ann Hui and Teddy Chen, art director Dr Rebecca Lee and actress Tina Liu will share their extraordinary creativity both in front of the camera and behind the scenes, while film scholars and researchers Dr Lei Chin-pang, Keeto Lam, Thomas Shin, Eric Tsang, Joyce Yang and Matthew Cheng will discuss with audiences their insights into the films. In addition, Eric Li, son of Li Wui-tao, who founded the Tao Yuen Motion Picture Development Company that produced “The Magic Cup”, will share his memories at the filming studio at a post-screening talk.
“The Spooky Bunch” will be screened at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with tickets priced at $70 and a 20 per cent discount for LCSD Museum Pass holders purchasing regular-priced tickets for this screening at URBTIX outlets. Other films will be screened at the HKFA Cinema, with tickets priced at $60. There is also a 20 per cent discount is available for every purchase of two or more regular-priced tickets of this programme. Tickets will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk
For details of the programmes, please visit the website of the HKFA: www.filmarchive.gov.hk
With “Beyond Fantasy” as this year’s theme, the LCSD presents the fourth Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. Over the years, Hong Kong pop culture has continued to evolve through music, images and text, as well as stage and cross-media creations. Shaped by the interplay of inheritance, circulation, fusion and breakthroughs, it has distilled a style that is uniquely Hong Kong. The Festival will continue to join audiences and local creators in crossing boundaries within everyday rhythms, and create warm, resonant and moving works while inspiring the limitless possibilities of pop culture. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/enIssued at HKT 18:20
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