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"Restored Treasures" to celebrate HK Film Archive's 15th anniversary (with photos)
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     The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will screen five restored cinematic classics in "Restored Treasures: HKFA 15th Anniversary Presentation" in January next year to celebrate the Archive's 15th anniversary with audiences.

     Details of the screenings are as follows:

"Confucius" (1940)
January 1 (Friday), 2pm

"The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part One: Wong Fei-hung's Whip that Smacks the Candle" (1949)
January 2 (Saturday), 2pm

"The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part Two: Wong Fei-hung Burns the Tyrant's Lair (1949)
January 2 (Saturday), 4pm

"Follow Your Dream" (1941)
January 3 (Sunday), 2pm

"Colourful Youth" (1966)
January 31 (Sunday), 2pm

     "Confucius" depicts Confucius' passionate yet futile attempt to influence the politics of his own state, and his quest to further humanity across the land. Producer Jin Xinmin, actor Zhang Yi and director Fei Mu formed ties in Hong Kong, where they sought shelter from war, and conceived the idea of making this film in Shanghai. After reviewing scientific evidence regarding the negatives and conducting research in available literature, the HKFA inserted nine minutes of scenes into the 87-minute film that was initially restored.

     Director Wu Pang and scriptwriter Ng Yat-siu created the trend of Wong Fei-hung movies. As the inaugural chapter of the saga, "The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part One: Wong Fei-hung's Whip that Smacks the Candle" features an impetuous Master Wong (Kwan Tak-hing) that differs from his humble heroic image in later sequels. The action choreography showcases the authentic Hung Fist, and a Lingnan folk song excerpt is a precious historic relic. "The Story of Wong Fei-hung, Part Two: Wong Fei-hung Burns the Tyrant's Lair" tells of Wong's showdown with Grey Hair Fu (Sek Kin) after solving the cliffhanger in Part One. While his hot-headed student Leung Foon (Tso Tat-wah) keeps making trouble, Wong expels any challengers who come to his martial arts hall.

     Lo Duen's realist tragicomedy "Follow Your Dream", which received 2K digital restoration in the Netherlands, presents a microcosm of various absurdities in wartime Hong Kong and mirrors the city's close interactions with Guangzhou in the 1930s and '40s. In the film, working-class folks are brought together under the same roof by a twist of fate and grow a caring heart for each other.

     Co-starring Connie Chan Po-chu and Josephine Siao Fong-fong, "Colourful Youth" was sent to the L'Immagine Ritrovata film restoration laboratory in Italy for improving the image and audio quality. Shot in Eastmancolor, the film features choreographed musical scenes and the trendiest fashions of the time, and several interlude songs have become household tunes. A post-screening talk (in Cantonese) with May Ng and Koven Lo as speakers will be held right after the screening. The new DVD of this restored film will be released for sale at the HKFA by end of January.

     "Confucius" is in Mandarin (portions of the soundtrack are missing) while the other films are in Cantonese. "Confucius" and "Follow Your Dream" have Chinese and English subtitles while the rest have no subtitles.

     Film tickets priced at $50 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/2011rt3/film.html.

Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 09:30

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