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Film Archive to screen Cantonese opera films of Yam Kim-fai in support of Cantonese Opera Day 2017 (with photos)
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     Affectionately dubbed the "Opera Fans' Lover", Cantonese opera star Yam Kim-fai attracted a large number of fans. In support of Cantonese Opera Day 2017, the Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Encountering the Idol... Again!", screening three films which feature Yam alongside various distinct screen partners on November 25 and 26 to showcase the artistry of Yam.

     "Tenth Madam To Sinks Her Treasure Chest in Anger" (1956) tells of a bitter romance between famous courtesan Madam To (Pak Suet-sin) and rich heir Lee Kap (Sun Ma Si-tsang). When Lee encounters financial difficulty, his friend Lau Yu-chun (Yam) lends him money, with which Lee can buy To's way out of a predicament. But later, Lee decides to sell To off for money. Knowing Lee's decision, To, in anger, decides to take drastic measures including throwing her treasure chest into the sea. Lau's generosity strikes an intriguing contrast with the heartless Lee, who betrays his lover in pursuit of fortune.

     Based on a renowned opera by Chin Lei Kui and Pak Kui-wing, "The Unroyal Prince" (1960) is Yam's first on-screen pairing with her talented disciple Connie Chan Po-chu. In the film, a palace girl (Ng Kwan-lai) is in love with a prince (Yam) and is then banished from the palace after falling pregnant. The prince, after becoming the emperor, encounters his illegitimate son (Chan in a cross-dressing role), who is competent in martial arts, and then decides to take him into the palace. However, the son is determined to get revenge for his mother's suffering. Yam remains magnetic and charismatic while being challenged by Chan in their electrifying confrontation scene, in which Yam steps back to let her 13-year-old disciple demonstrate her acting potential.

     In "Law Shing at the Gate" (1962), Yam is clad in heavy warrior armour to play Law Shing, who leads troops to fight against the traitor Dau Kin-dak for his country even when sick and is then caught by Dau's daughter (Yu Lai-zhen). Later, when Law returns home, he finds himself being expelled from his country due to the scheming of villainous officials. Yam, who was first trained in the siu mo (young warrior role) discipline, co-stars with the action heroine Yu in a series of fighting sequences. In addition, she performs numerous traditional opera martial arts tricks in the film to make it a truly memorable showcase of Yam's remarkable talents. The screening will be followed by a talk with Cantonese opera researcher Wong Shing-chuen as the speaker.

     All films are in Cantonese without subtitles.

     Tickets priced at $45 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/HKFA/en_US/web/hkfa/programmesandexhibitions/2017etia/film.html or call 2739 2139.
 
Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
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In support of Cantonese Opera Day 2017, the Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Encountering the Idol... Again!", screening three films of Cantonese opera star Yam Kim-fai on November 25 and 26. Picture shows a film still of "Tenth Madam To Sinks Her Treasure Chest in Anger" (1956).
In support of Cantonese Opera Day 2017, the Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Encountering the Idol... Again!", screening three films of Cantonese opera star Yam Kim-fai on November 25 and 26. Picture shows a film still of "The Unroyal Prince" (1960).
In support of Cantonese Opera Day 2017, the Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present "Encountering the Idol... Again!", screening three films of Cantonese opera star Yam Kim-fai on November 25 and 26. Picture shows a film still of "Law Shing at the Gate" (1962).