Film Archive's "Revisiting the Glory Days - The Legacy of Leslie and Anita" to review Leslie Cheung's and Anita Mui's classic works (with photos)
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The first event of the screening programme is "When Leslie & Anita Meet Hei & Gin" which will be held at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on April 22. It is also the opening programme of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2023. Renowned music producer Chiu Tsang-hei selected and re-arranged four theme songs from films of Cheung and Mui which will be performed by popular singer Gin Lee in company with film excerpts. The performance will be followed by a screening of the film "Who's the Woman, Who's the Man" (1996), which is the last feature film co-starring the two superstars. In addition, the HKFA will screen the 4K restored version of "Rouge" (1988), another film co-starred by Cheung and Mui, at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on April 23. Other films of the programme will be screened from April 29 to December 30 at HKFA Cinema.
Having versatile personas on the screen, Cheung brought various types of characters to life in films as well. Whether it be the unrestrained playboy in "Days of Being Wild" (1990), the fierce yet gentle undercover cop in "Moonlight Express" (1999), the highly skilful thief in "Once a Thief" (1991), the ingenuous scholar in "A Chinese Ghost Story" (1987) or the cunning rascal in "Long and Winding Road" (1994), Cheung was equally adept at playing these roles.
Mui also triumphed with her acting. From the psychologically conflicted Gu Manlu in "Eighteen Springs" (1997) adapted from Eileen Chang's work, the top-class etiquette coach in "The Greatest Lover" (1988), the tough woman facing marital crisis in "Midnight Fly" (2001), the heroine who personifies both strength and gentleness in "The Heroic Trio" (1993), the legendary spy in "Kawashima Yoshiko" (1990), to cross-dressing as the incompetent and skirt-chasing king in "Wu Yen" (2001), Mui had perfectly captured the essence of all these characters.
As leading figures of local pop music, Cheung and Mui also demonstrated their musical talents in films. The film "Behind the Yellow Line" (1984) marked their first acting collaboration and its theme song, sad but charming, is also the first duet by the two superstars for a film. Mui took the role of a pop diva in the song and dance film "The Musical Singer" (1985) and demonstrated her mesmerising talents through stage performance. In "For Your Heart Only" (1985), Cheung's hit songs intertwine closely with and drive the plots of the film. The theme song sung by him in "He's a Woman, She's a Man" (1994) became a Hong Kong pop classic. In addition, Cheung applied his artistic flair through directing, editing and scoring for the final sequence of "Viva Erotica" (1996).
The later-stage films of the duo will also be screened in this programme, including "Inner Senses" (2002), which depicts the dark side of human nature with Cheung's powerful performance in expressing inner struggle and despair. In Mui's "July Rhapsody" (2002), she delicately depicts how a middle-aged woman faces obstacles and melancholy in her natural performance.
Some screenings will be accompanied by pre-/post-screening talks hosted by Stanley Kwan, Joyce Yang, Gordon Chan, Chan Hing-kai, Janice Chow, Sam Ho, Clifton Ko Chi-sum, Dr Charles Cheung, Teddy Robin, Johnny Wang, Thomas Shin, Dr Ng Chun-hung, Shu Kei, Poon Hang-sang, Dr Angela Law, Eric Tsang and Matthew Cheng.
"Midnight Fly" is in Cantonese and English, and the other films are in Cantonese. Apart from "Viva Erotica" which has no subtitles, other films are with Chinese and English subtitles. "Viva Erotica" is classified as Category III and only persons aged 18 or above will be admitted.
The first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival organised by the LCSD aims to offer an array of programmes, from pop concerts and performances to thematic exhibitions, film screenings, outdoor and outreach activities, showcasing Hong Kong's unique cultural creativity and vibrancy.
Tickets are priced at $85 for "When Leslie & Anita Meet Hei & Gin" and at $45 for other screenings. Tickets will be available from tomorrow (April 1) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the website of HKFA (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en_US/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-cheungmui.html) or call 2739 2139.
Ends/Friday, March 31, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:00
Issued at HKT 15:00
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