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Veteran actor Sek Kin, who passed away on June 3, was known affectionately as "Bad Guy Kin" and was one of the most recognisable faces of Hong Kong cinema for more than half a century. His signature grin and powerful charisma will live on in the hearts of many.
The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) is presenting a tribute programme, "The Villain We Love: In Memory of Sek Kin, from June 19 to July 31 to pay respects to "Uncle Kin", as the actor had come to be known.
An exhibition showcasing his versatility in different films will be held on the first floor of the HKFA where film clips and an oral history interview with Sek Kin will be shown.
Three films featuring his memorable roles will be screened at the Cinema of the HKFA. "Wong Fei-hung saves the Kidnapped Leung Foon" (1958) will be shown at 5pm on June 20, while "Story of the Sword and the Sabre, Part One" (1963) and "The System" (1979) will be shown at 11.30am on June 27 and July 4 respectively. There will be post-screening discussions. All films are in Cantonese.
Free tickets for the screenings will be distributed at the enquiry counter of the HKFA from 10am on Sunday (June 14). Each patron is limited to a maximum of two tickets on a first-come-first-served basis.
Suffering from poor health in childhood, Sek Kin practised martial arts to improve his physical condition. When he entered the film industry, he was not an actor but a make-up artist, later working as a voice actor who dubbed Mandarin films into Cantonese.
His screen acting career started in 1940s when he made his debut in "Flower in a Sea of Blood". He appeared in more than 300 films and TV dramas throughout his career. Among his many roles, the most memorable are his portrayals of the archetypal villain in the popular "Wong Fei-hung" series and as the blind Golden Hair Lion King in the TV series.
Because of his extraordinary acting skills, audiences loved to see the villainous characters played by Sek Kin at the height of Cantonese cinema. From the 1970s, he gradually expanded his acting roles from villains to loving characters. His persona was much more than just a bad guy; his remarkable presence and acting versatility always an enlightening experience.
He worked with virtually every big name in the history of Hong Kong cinema, dutifully complementing the stars. "Uncle Kin" became a term of endearment that expressed the audience's recognition of the gentle soul behind the many menacing screen appearances. His outstanding career achievement was recognised in the Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony in 2003, when he was presented with the Professional Achievement Award.
For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900 or browse the website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk) or (www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp).
Ends/Thursday, June 11, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:50
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