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Twelve prominent Chinese classics including the famous propaganda Jingju film "Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy", award-winning titles "My Memories of Old Beijing", "Yellow Earth" and " Red Sorghum", Shanghai opera and folk song film will be shown in the upcoming programme "Chinese Film Classics" from October 11 to 27 at the Hong Kong Science Museum Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Film Archive Cinema and the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.
The Film Programmes Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd and Southern Film Co. Ltd have jointly presented various Chinese thematic series in the past few years. "Chinese Film Classics" is another joint presentation providing audiences an insight into the contemporary films from 50s to 80s as well as to share the aesthetic achievements of the Chinese movies. Nearly all films shown are in new prints.
Model opera (Yang Ban Ju) is a subject of research value for those who are interested in contemporary Chinese culture. All artistic productions were nearly brought to a halt during the Cultural Revolution. Only eight operas were produced during that period and they were forgotten after the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976. The model operatic films were only re-released in recent years and were all well received. The opening film "Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy" (1970) is the first Chinese revolutionary opera film and shown the first time outside Mainland China after the Cultural Revolution. With the emphasis on the good guys and heroes, the story is about how a platoon of the People's Liberation Army goes deep into the Northeastern region to pursue a group of bandits who side with the Nationalists.
Chinese filmmakers were interested in establishing a style which is modern as well as realistic after the Cultural Revolution. Adapted from Lin Haiyin's novel of the same title, the graceful "My Memories of Old Beijing" (1982) is an account of people and incidents the author encountered when she was a little girl in Beijing in the 20's. The film, constructed as a prose poem, successfully creates an aura of enchantment and poetic ambience. It won many prizes in various film festivals including the Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and Best Music at the 3rd Golden Rooster Awards.
Director Chen Kaige's masterpiece "Yellow Earth" (1984) is one of the most important and ground breaking films in the history of the Chinese cinema. It marks the birth of the "fifth generation" filmmakers who went to the Beijing Film Academy after the end of the Cultural Revolution. The film also signifies the beginning of the new generation's quest for the new meaning of life. It features the hardship and sufferings of the peasants and their struggle with the natural environment. The film won many awards including the Silver Leopard of Locarno International Film Festival Prize of the Ecumenical Jury 1985 and Director Award of the 29th London & Edinburgh International Film Festival 1985.
Starring superstars Gong Li and Jiang Wen, Zhang Yimou's "Red Sorghum" (1987) captures the hearts of millions of young audiences with its fearless, vivacious spirit and the wild and passionate love story. The film won the Golden Bear Award for the Best Picture in the 38th Berlin Film Festival 1988 as well as Best Story, Best Cinematography and Best Music in the 8th Golden Rooster Awards 1988.
Other highlights in the retrospective include folk song film "Third Sister Liu" (1960), which is one of the most popular movies in the history of Hong Kong. Some of the songs from the film even appear in Stephen Chow's recent blockbuster "Shaoling Soccer". The legendary tragic love story "Liang Shan-po and Chi Ying-tai" (1954) was re-filmed many times. The Shanghai Yue Opera version, with its tender and sensual singing fits perfectly with the story. This is also the first big-budget colour film made after the founding of the PRC government. The film is considered a classic that occupies an important position in the history of cinema and won the Musical Award at the 8th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 1954.
"Search the College" (1956) is a rare Cantonese opera colour production about a romance between a maid and a young student. It was extremely well received by the Hong Kong audiences when first shown in 1957. It is also the first performance of the Cantonese opera superstars, Hong Xiannu and Ma Shizeng, after their return to the Mainland in the 50's.
Other notable classics include "Early Spring" (1963) which was banned by Jiang Ching but became very popular with the intellectuals and hailed as the "most beautiful Chinese film" when shown after the Cultural Revolution. Starring Liu Xiaoqing and Jiang Wen, "Hibiscus Town" (1986) is one of the important works of well-known director Xie Jin. Through a young woman's miserable life and the behavior of various people, it depicts the unbeatable human spirit. The film won various awards in China and international film festivals.
"The Lin Family Shop" (1959) is one of the best examples of film adaptation of short stories. For those who like war films, "The Naval Battle of 1894" (1962) uncovers the behavior of the fearless, patriotic officials and the selfish, cowardly mandarins whereas "The Xi'an Incident" (1981) successfully recreates the major characters of the Nationalist Party and the Communist Party.
All films are in Putonghua with Chinese subtitles except "Search the College" which is in Cantonese. "My Memories of Old Beijing", "Red Sorghum" and "Yellow Earth" have English subtitles.
Tickets for the "Chinese Film Classics" are priced at $40 each and are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessionary tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.
Reservations can be made at 2734 9009 with internet booking at www.urbtix.gov.hk. and programme enquiries at 2734 2900/ 2527 7284/ 2780 5355. Details can also be obtained at www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.
End/Friday, October 4, 2002
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