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The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a new programme entitled "The Art of Film Scripting" from April 25 to June 28 at the HKFA Cinema. The allure of scriptwriting is in the freedom to let the imagination soar, having the power to control stories, characters and movements. The programme will showcase around 40 well-known television series and films, representing a wide range of genres and eras, by local scriptwriters including Joyce Chan, Szeto On, Alfred Cheung, Alex Law, Mabel Cheung, Raymond To, Chan Man-keung, Chun Kim, Evan Yang, Chor Yuen, Ni Kuang, Chang Cheh, Chiu Kang-chien and Chun Tin-nam.
Some of the screenings will be followed by post-screening talks with speakers including Joyce Chan, Szeto On, Alfred Cheung, Chan Man-keung, Alex Law, Mabel Cheung, Raymond To, Lam Chiu-wing, Thomas Shin, Jack Ng and Victor Or. To complement the screenings, two seminars entitled "The Frustrations of a Script-writer" and "Scripting Laughters into Tales of Our City" will be held at 4.30pm on April 25 and June 6 respectively at the HKFA Cinema with free admission. The seminars and post-screening talks will be conducted in Cantonese. The reference film "Ballad of a Soldier" (1959), which follows the life of a young soldier in Russia during World War II, will be shown on April 25.
In addition, the exhibition "The Labyrinth of Film Scripting" will be held from April 24 to July 26 at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA. It will showcase valuable artefacts and manuscripts of numerous renowned Hong Kong scriptwriters, together with multimedia installations and film footage selections, offering visitors a good look at thoughtfully penned screenplays.
The Hong Kong television industry saw various innovative endeavours in the mid-1970s. Breaking the constraints of traditional television storytelling, Joyce Chan gives a surprisingly in-depth exploration into the modern female psyche in "Superstar Specials: Wong Chuen-yu" (1975), and exposes the fears and desires of a middle class housewife in her lonely home life. She further enhances her depth of writing in the CID episode "Two Teddy Girls" (1976), by using a seemingly typical crime thriller to portray the lives of Hong Kong's different social classes. Her literary film "The Christ of Nanjing" (1995) is adorned with lyrical soliloquies and creates surprises by jumbling the cast's national identities. Tony Leung Ka-fai plays a Japanese author visiting China, while Yasuko Tomita plays an innocent Chinese prostitute who believes in Christ.
In the TV drama "Seven Women: Lisa Wang" (1976), Chan deploys a creative mix of dialogue and monologue to illustrate Wang's complicated personality. An overly sensitive and obedient daughter is treated by a young doctor who has his own psychological hang-ups, thereby igniting a conflict of egos. Starring Brigitte Lin and Charlie Chin Hsiang-lin, "Love Massacre" (1981) displays Chan's insightful scriptwriting that delves into mental illness and conveys the love and hate behind madness. "Social Worker: Ah Sze" (1976) and "Under the Eaves: The Story of Ah King" (1978) are two tragedies of characters in grim circumstances. The former portrays a teenage girl left with few choices for survival other than prostitution, while the latter follows a woman trying to escape from her jammed public housing life but ending up meeting the wrong guy.
"The Secret" (1979) was the first feature film by Ann Hui and Chan, and it departed from the neorealist style of their television works and pioneered a new chapter in the Hong Kong New Wave. Based on a true murder case at Lung Fu Shan in 1970, the film explores the dark side of human psyche with an innovative non-linear narrative structure. The film was the runner up of Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan. After flirting with the supernatural in the "The Secret", the duo dived back into the genre with the uproarious horror comedy "The Spooky Bunch" (1980), which depicts paranormal happenings and human body possessions in a Cantonese opera troupe. The hilarious star performance by Josephine Siao Fong-fong and the supporting cast brings Chan's imaginative script to life.
Chan deliberately blurred the line between honesty and dishonesty in her scripts for the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) television series "ICAC". In "ICAC A Man" (1977), a police inspector reports his corrupt colleagues, but his own integrity comes under attack by the defence lawyer. In "ICAC Homeward Bound" (1977), a corrupt health inspector indulges in extravagance despite having a dutiful wife, whose life eventually falls apart in desolation. "ICAC Two Stories: Water" (1978) features a kind, gullible mother-in-law and her rude, strong-willed daughter-in-law who both encounter the same con artist. Chan's scripts are non-judgmental and wisely reflect on the ephemeral nature of life.
Writer Alex Law and director Mabel Cheung collaboratively made various films themed on diaspora. With reference to the childhood of superstars Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, "Painted Faces" (1988) draws parallels between a modern child and the kids in an opera troupe, all being pressured to excel. The film is full of Law's signature marks of diaspora and nostalgia, such as the replacement of traditional opera by pop music, the decline of Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park, and migration to America, giving a magnificent account of a coming-of-age tale in the 1960s. Starring Chow Yun-fat and Cherie Chung, "An Autumn's Tale" (1987) tells of woman's encounter with her distant relative in a foreign country, capturing the voices of the Hong Kong diaspora. "The Illegal Immigrant" (1985) follows a couple getting a green card in America through a sham marriage, generating all kinds of wordplay and humour at a loss in a world of foreign languages. The scene breakdown weaves together the various facets of the Chinese immigrant community to show their joys and sorrows.
Written by Alfred Cheung, "The Story of Woo Viet" (1981) depicts the plight of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. Chow Yun-fat stars as Woo Viet, a Vietnamese refugee working as a killer for the mob in order to free his love. The cold and sharp tone in the film is accentuated by using Woo Viet's letters to express his inner world. The film won Best Screenplay in the first Hong Kong Film Awards.
Cheung also scripts and directs various comedy films, and adeptly produces satires with serious implications. "Her Fatal Ways" (1990) is a rare political comedy in Hong Kong that creates a highly representative character of the "cousin" from Mainland China and points to a way out in absurdity. In "Let's Make Laugh" (1983), a bankrupt businessman leaves his young wife (Cecilia Yip) alone with a court-appointed guard (Kenny Bee) at her rural home, and their feuding blossoms into love. Set in the defined time and space, Cheung's film carefully depicts the romance between the two, who have much in common.
The Cantonese wuxia films scripted by Szeto On are rich in dramatic content with characters of distinct personalities. In "Wong Fei-hung: The Invincible Lion Dancer" (1968), Szeto highlights the courage and wisdom of Master Wong through his matches with an overbearing bully. In "The Furious Buddha's Palm" (1965), the Heavenly Crippled-leg move is used in a massacre in the martial world and shakes Lung Kim-fei's resolve not to intervene by killing, creating powerful dramatic conflicts. "The Single-armed Holy Nun" (1969) features the transformation of Wah Wan-piu (Lui Kay) into a martial arts talent, who later meets with Man Fung-Chi (Suet Nei). Their reversal of roles in helping and fighting each other skilfully creates contrast to show the development of feelings in the characters. "Killer Constable" (1980) is a remake of "The Invincible Fist" (1969) written by Ni Kuang. Szeto turns Leng Tianying into the Dirty Harry of ancient times, killing without hesitation, and elaborates on Leng's relationship with subordinates. The cameo appearance of Jason Pai Piao steals the show in his tactical fights with Leng for the gold. "The Love of an Innocent Girl" (1967) is a melodrama by Szeto On. Young girl Choi Yuen-wah (Josephine Siao Fong-fong) meets Sze Hon-wai (Lui Kay) after running away from a reformatory, and disguises herself as a missing heiress to comfort the latter's grandpa. Sek Kin, who usually plays the villain, gives a rare performance as a doting grandfather.
Raymond To is talented for writing female characters and his personae are full of human warmth. In "Stooge, My Love" (1996), stripper Giu (Carrie Ng) and a man with mental disability, Biscuit (Wong He), make a living as con artists. The scene of Giu being forced to striptease for a group of policemen, one of which is her long-lost son, brings the film to an emotional climax. To naturally shifts back to humour at the end, filling the film with both laughs and tears just like life. In "Ah Fai the Dumb" (1997), the mentally challenged Fai becomes a genius after his recovery from a serious accident. Despite gaining fame and wealth, he loses his original innocence. Devoid of grand metaphors, To's story tells a straightforward tale with a universal message about life. "My Dad is a Jerk!" (1997) tells of a divorced man (Lau Ching-wan) suddenly being asked to take care of his estranged son. Sparks fly around as the naive young child interacts with the vulgar man-child. To's script is witty and well-structured, and expresses a unique world view without deviating heavily from the genre formula.
Chan Man-keung's realistic screenplays bring colourful characters to life. Set against the chaos of Macau at the time, "Tale of Two Cities: Destined Floats, Part 1 and 2" (1990) reflects on heavy issues such as illegal labour and return migration through the encounters of a young girl hailing from Panyu to Macau and a Mainland university student. "Gangs" (1988) follows a gang of unseasoned kids who struggle between relationships and interests, telling of the pains of sin and comeuppance. "Below the Lion Rock: Drug Kids" (1985), which features kid gangs in housing estates who deal and take drugs, ponders the tragedy of drug trafficking and troubled youth. "Lee Rock 1" (1991) is a dark, anti-hero film starring Andy Lau as Detective Lee Rock, and depicts post-war Hong Kong from before the rule of law to the formation of the ICAC.
Written by Chan Man-keung and directed by Ann Hui, "Summer Snow" (1995) marks a peak of these two filmmakers' careers. The film highlights the family issues of three generations living together and the elderly care problems in society. Josephine Siao Fong-fong plays a middle-aged working widow with as much grace as humour, while Roy Chiao's portrayal of the sweet and cheeky father-in-law with Alzheimer's brings both laughs and tears to the screen. The film won the Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Actor and Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Chan's "Queen of Temple Street" (1990) shakes off the shackles of social morality and paints an honest picture of life's greatest pains. Sylvia Chang steps out of her usual roles and plays a "Madame" who sells ladies for a living. While holding up her shady career and connections, she also watches her own daughter walk the same crooked path. The film won Chan Best Screenplay at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards.
In Chun Kim's "Parents' Hearts" (1955), Ma Si-tsang delivers a devastating performance as a dignified artist who never lets his personal hardships cover the friendly smile he gives on-stage. Chun turns a father-and-son drama into a heartrending portrayal of selfless parental sacrifice, sharing insights on arts and personal and family values. Evan Yang's "Forever Yours" (1960) is richly drawn with character details and memorable scenes, depicting a moving love story that transcends mortality. Chor Yuen's "The Youth" (1969) is a cautionary tale about society's degrading ethics amid rapid economic development, with young university students spending their days chasing vanity, vice and crime. Borrowing from the character connections in "The Romance of the Condor Heroes", Chang Cheh and Ni Kuang's "One-Armed Swordsman" (1967) tells of a handicapped hero who grows stronger after going through a traumatic experience. Co-scripted by Chiu Kang-chien and Chun Tin-nam, "Tong Chee Yi Li Nan" (1985) describes a young Chang'an nobleman meeting a streetwise character by chance and the pair set off on a bizarre journey to fulfil all of their desires. The fine combination of classical impressions and modern trends adds to the visual aesthetics of the film.
"Superstar Specials: Wong Chuen-yu" is in Cantonese and partly in Mandarin with Chinese subtitles for the Mandarin part; "Ballad of a Soldier" is in Russian with English subtitles. "Killer Constable", "Forever Yours", "One-Armed Swordsman" and "Tong Chee Yi Li Nan" are in Mandarin; "Painted Faces" is in Cantonese and Mandarin; and the other films are in Cantonese. "Stooge, My Love" is being shown with Chinese and English subtitles and Chinese lyrics; "CID: Two Teddy Girls", "Social Worker: Ah Sze", "Under the Eaves: The Story of Ah King", "ICAC: A Man", "ICAC: Homeward Bound", "ICAC: Two Stories: Water", "The Spooky Bunch", "Seven Women: Lisa Wang", "The Furious Buddha's Palm", "The Love of an Innocent Girl", "Wong Fei-hung: The Invincible Lion Dancer", "The Single-armed Holy Nun", "Parents' Hearts", "Forever Yours", "The Story of Woo Viet", "Below the Lion Rock: Drug Kids" and "Tale of Two Cities: Destined Floats, Part 1 and 2" are being shown without subtitles; and the rest are being shown with Chinese and English subtitles.
Tickets priced at $40 are now available at URBTIX. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card bookings can be made at 2111 5999 or on the Internet at www.urbtix.hk. For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900. Detailed programme information can be found in "ProFolio 77" distributed at all performing venues of the LCSD, or by browsing the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/Filmprog/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/afs/index.html.
Ends/Friday, April 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:37
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