HK Film Archive to present mini-showcase of "100 Must-See Hong Kong Movies" at North District Town Hall (with photos)
******************************************************************************************
Details of the screenings are as follows:
"It Was a Cold Winter Night" (1955) June 16
"The Pregnant Maiden" (1968) July 14
"The Spooky Bunch" (1980) August 30
"Mr Vampire" (1985) September 8
"God of Gamblers" (1989) October 20
Adapted from Ba Jin's novel by director Lee Sun-fung, "It Was a Cold Winter Night" is the story of a man, his wife and his mother who suffer difficulties in their relationship brought about by the weight of tradition, the devastation of war and the upheavals of the changing times. Complemented by the superb performance of Ng Cho-fan, the film shows the art and craft of Cantonese cinema at its best.
"The Pregnant Maiden" is a screwball comedy. Connie Chan Po-chu, upon learning her unmarried elder sister is pregnant, decides to fake her own pregnancy to divert her parents' attention, confident that she can better handle the scornful reproach of the family's temperamental patriarch as she is her father's favourite. Madcap shenanigans ensue. Lui Kay, who falls in love with Chan and with her creates an odd couple, added extra touches of humour and fun. Directed and scripted by Chor Yuen, the film takes the audience on a hilarious romp.
In director Ann Hui's "The Spooky Bunch", the tradition of Cantonese opera provided an evocative dramatic context for the youthful New Wave cinema. Josephine Siao Fong-fong and her Cantonese opera troupe are invited to perform on an outlying island and soon there is something spooky about the island. The island serves as a giant backstage for the opera, allowing the film to skilfully channel Cantonese opera's iconic qualities to set the title's spooky mood.
The vampire film classic "Mr Vampire" features Maoshan Taoist rituals being used to catch a female ghost and vampires, and takes a pop culture approach to the vampires of ancient Chinese folk legends and historical literature. The plot is blended with martial arts action scenes, comedy treatment and an early Republican setting and characters. The film launched leading actor Lam Ching-ying to become a star playing Taoists in vampire films.
"God of Gamblers", directed by Wong Jing, tells of a legendary gambler who suffers a partial loss of memory, and with the help of an enterprising young hustler he returns to the table after an eventful series of over-the-top adventures. The film reflects how Hong Kong at the time was merrily engrossed in an unapologetic embrace of free-market economics, and getting rich quick was on the minds of many.
All of the films are in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles.
Tickets priced at $45 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2739 2139 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/highlights.html.
Ends/Friday, May 12, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
NNNN
Photo
