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To tie in with the screening programme "Merry-Go-Movies · Star Kids 2" as part of the "Morning Matinee" series from May to August, an exhibition of the same title is being held by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department until August 28 at the 1/F Foyer of the HKFA. The exhibition follows 17 outstanding child stars of the 1950s and '60s, showcasing numerous precious film stills and biographies. Admission is free.
The exhibition consists of four parts. "From Child Stars to Veteran Actors" introduces actors who have continued to work in the film industry for over half a century since they were kids. They are Paul Chun (aka Yan Chang) and his brother John Chiang (aka Yan Wei) from a famed acting family; Nancy Sit Kar-yin, a popular movie and television star; and Rosanne Lui (aka Shan Shan), a talented singer.
"Child Stars Dearly Remembered" features late actors whose enchanting performances as child stars were unforgettable to audiences. Those featured are the agile Siu Kei Lun (1946-1987), the brilliant Yuen Siu-hoi (1940-1994), the debonair and handsome Lam Kam-tong (1948-2013) and the smart and cheerful Chiang Kwai-lam (1942-2015).
In the Cantonese and Mandarin cinema circles of the '50s and '60s, children of filmmakers frequently visited sets with their parents and their appearances in movies were not uncommon. "The Offspring of Famed Directors" features gifted children of famed directors, namely Fung Hak-on (son of Fung Fung), Li Zhendi (son of Li Pingqian), Ng Ka-lai (daughter of Ng Wui), Chu Tin-wai (daughter of Chu Kea) and Wong Kam-fung (daughter of Wong Fung).
Cantonese films from that time often feature scenes in which children are abused by their stepmothers. Although the child stars may not play leading roles in those movies, their impressionable performances touched the heart of many audiences. "Poorly Treated Kids" introduces Yuen Siu-fai, Tsui Siu-ming, On Wai-lin and Leung Chun-mut, who played kids receiving poor treatment and won much sympathy with their powerful and tear-jerking performances.
The HKFA publication "Merry-Go-Movies: Star Kids of HK Cinema in the 50s and 60s" from 2014 also includes the profiles of several child stars featured in the exhibition, together with photos, film stills and oral history interviews of other famous child stars, such as Fung Bo-bo, Michael Lai, Connie Chan Po-chu, Josephine Siao and Bruce Lee. The book, priced at $80 and in Chinese, is available for sale at the HKFA.
For enquiries about the exhibition, please call 2739 2139 or browse the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/highlights.html.
Ends/Friday, May 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:51
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