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The flagship series "100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies" organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will feature six wuxia and action films made in the period from the 1960s to the 1990s from November to January next year. Audiences can revisit timeless classics that transcend generations, namely King Hu's "Come Drink with Me" (1966), "A Touch of Zen" (1971) and "Raining in the Mountain" (1979); John Woo's "The Killer" (1989); and Ching Siu-tung's "A Chinese Ghost Story" (1987) and "Swordsman II" (1992).
The six films will be shown on November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 respectively at the HKFA Cinema, with post-screening talks conducted by Cheng Chuen-wai, Shu Kei, Wong Ain-ling, Ka Ming, Sonia Au and Keeto Lam in Cantonese. These films will also be shown from November to January next year at Broadway Cinematheque (BC).
King Hu made a stylistic breakthrough in his first wuxia film "Come Drink with Me" by inventing new experimental techniques for Peking opera with pacey action choreography and film editing. Influenced by Japanese cinema, Hu focused on shaping the characters and visual images, such as the settings, actors' blocking in each scene and even the colours of their wardrobe, which together work to complement the plot and make the film even more authentic-looking and visually striking. The iconic male disguise of Golden Swallow (Cheng Pei-pei), the demeanour of the drunken warrior (Elliot Yueh Hua) and the pale-faced villain in his white robes (Golden Chen Hung-lieh) served as an original prototype for wuxia characters.
Hu's defining work "A Touch of Zen" follows a scholar who is dragged into a fight between two fugitives and a powerful eunuch in the Ming dynasty, and explores the ideology of scholars in Chinese society, such as the delusions of fame and seclusion, and changes in life and dreams. Shooting at locations in Hong Kong and Taiwan over several years, Hu created a unique and stylistic martial arts form that is both aesthetically outstanding and mystical in its storytelling, which ventures into the realm of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. The international version of the film won the Technical Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1975.
Also directed and scripted by Hu, "Raining in the Mountain" delivers a message about man's greed for fame and glory through the story of a fight for a scroll during a major power transition in a monastery. Hu ties the film closely to Buddhist philosophy and incorporates messages on enlightenment and morality. Unlike those in typical wuxia films, the characters do not engage in sword fights but play a deadly game of hide-and-seek to stay out of each other's sight. The fierce yet quiet battles for fame unravel lies and deceit under Hu's nuanced lens.
John Woo's masterpiece in his "hero films" oeuvre, "The Killer" is a contemporary action movie with preeminent expression of the noble wuxia tradition of the chivalrous spirit. Featuring Chow Yun-fat, the film tells of John (Chow), an assassin caught up in a power tussle among gangsters and betrayed by a close friend, and developing a faithful brotherhood with Detective "Eagle" Lee (Danny Lee), who works on the opposite side of the law. The film presents a sphere of aesthetics that is distinctively Woo's, including depiction of a church as a place of salvation, the allusive presence of doves as a contrast to gore, and stylised slow motion to convey a sense of lyricism in gun battles and deaths. Woo's storytelling techniques to create honour and friendship between a cop and a gangster also set an example for many heroic genre films to follow.
Directed by Ching Siu-tung and produced by Tsui Hark, "A Chinese Ghost Story" is a love story that centres on the ghost-human relationship between a maiden ghost (Joey Wang) and a pure-hearted lad (Leslie Cheung). The filmmakers jazz up the eerie story of "Nie Xiaoqian" with a crossover of Hollywood and localised filming techniques. The flamboyant action set pieces, comedic elements and high-tech special effects contribute to the lush visuals, giving the film a quintessentially modern touch. Art director Yee Chung-man and composer James Wong won Best Art Direction and Best Original Film Song respectively for the film at the 7th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Another collaboration of Ching and Tsui, "Swordsman II" has a stunning plot, which starts with the carnage in the Eastern Factory, a secret state agency wrecked by Asia the Invincible (Brigitte Lin), before moving on to battles and intrigue laced with witchcraft trickery of snake-wielding and concealed weapons, and culminating in a three-sided battle climax in which Asia the Invincible launches her deadly embroidery needles. Each action scene unfolds with greater shock and exaggeration. In the film, Ling Wu-chung (Jet Li) and his fellow members of the Mount Hua Sect are planning to retire from the martial world but only find themselves thrust to the forefront of unrest. Art director William Chang successfully created an androgynous image for Lin as Asia the Invincible, which has become a memorable, iconic role with a bewitching blend of charm and cruelty.
"Come Drink with Me", "A Touch of Zen" and "Raining in the Mountain" are in Mandarin, while all other films are in Cantonese. All films have Chinese and English subtitles.
Tickets for screenings at the HKFA are available at URBTIX. Tickets for screenings at BC are available at BC and via its website.
Tickets for the HKFA's screenings are priced at $40. Half-price concessionary tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities (and one accompanying minder), full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999 or on the Internet at www.urbtix.hk. Tickets for BC's screenings are priced at $60; tickets priced at $44 are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, full-time students and children aged 11 or below. There is a 20 per cent discount for BC VIP members. Phone ticketing can be made on 2388 3188 or on the Internet at www.cinema.com.hk.
For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900. Detailed programme information can be found in "ProFolio 79" and leaflets distributed at all performing venues of the LCSD, at BC or on the webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/2011ms100/index.html.
Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:09
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