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¡§A Retrospective of Mainland-Hong Kong Co-productions of the 80s-90s¡¨ opened tonight (October 17) at the Exhibition Hall of Hong Kong City Hall (HKCH).
The retrospective is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the South China Film Industry Workers Union, in association with Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd. and Southern Film Co. Ltd.
Officiating at the opening ceremony were Deputy Director General of the Publicity, Cultural and Sports Department, Liaison Office of the Central People¡¦s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Cai Wenzhong; President of the China Film Co-production Corporation, Mr La Peikang; Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of the Leisure and Cultural Services, Dr Ng Chi-wa; Chairman of the South China Film Industry Workers Union, Mr Yu Lun; Chairman and General Manager of Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd., Mr Song Dai; Managing Director of Southern Film Co. Ltd., Mr Dixon Lau; Chairman of Golden Harvest, Mr Raymond Chow; producers Ng Sze-yuen, Wong Ka-hee, Hon Pou-chu and Manfred Wong; director Tsui Siu-ming; daughter of director Li Han-hsiang, Ms Margaret Li.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Ng said that the signing of CEPA has attracted more film co-productions in the past three years.
Co-productions between the Mainland and Hong Kong dated back to the late 70s and he hoped that the retrospective would give audiences a more in-depth knowledge on the early film co-productions.
From today to November 5 (Sunday), 12 notable award-winning films will be screened at the Theatre of the Hong Kong City Hall, the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum.
The opening film, director Li Han-hsiang¡¦s masterpiece¡§Reign Behind a Curtain¡¨ (1983), reveals the acute power struggle in the imperial palace after the death of the Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty.
The other opening film,¡§The Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple¡¨ (1984) is directed and screenplay by Tsui Siu-ming. It features how the Shaolin Temple tried to preserve its reputation when the minister wanted to steal the holy robe.
Other films include the late Leslie Cheung¡¦s ¡§Farewell to My Concubine¡¨ (1993), Maggie Cheung and Brigitte Lin¡¦s ¡§Dragon Inn¡¨ (1992), Stephen Chow¡¦s ¡§A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora¡¦s Box ¡¨ (1994), ¡§A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella¡¨ (1994), Zhang Yimou and Gong Li¡¦s ¡§The Terracotta Warrior¡¨ (1989) and ¡§The Story of Qiuju¡¨ (1992), Jiang Wen¡¦s director debut ¡§In the Heart of the Sun¡¨ (1994) and director Ann Hui¡¦s ¡§Eighteen Springs¡¨ (1997), Wu Tianming¡¦s ¡§The King of Masks¡¨ (1995) and director Yim Ho¡¦s ¡§The Day the Sun Turned Cold¡¨ (1994).
All films are in Putonghua, except ¡§Dragon Inn¡¨, ¡§A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora¡¦s Box¡¨ and ¡§A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella¡¨. Other than ¡§The Holy Robe of Shaolin Temple¡¨ and ¡§The Terracotta Warrior¡¨, all films have English subtitles.
Tickets priced at $40 are available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. There will be a 10% discount for Friends of LCSD performing venues or each purchase of six to 10 tickets, and a 20% discount for each purchase of 11 or more tickets.
For programme information call 2734 2900, 2780 5355 or 2527 7284, or browse www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp. Reservations can be made by phone on 2734 9009 or on the internet at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 21:31
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