Film Archive to screen five classic films in relation to "Cinderella and Her Qipao" exhibition (with photos)
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Costumes are a crucial element in films. It can help reflect different characters' social statuses and personalities, and help establish their images. In "Modern 'Red Chamber Dream'" (1952), the story of a love triangle from the literary classic is transposed to the 1950s. The diverse female cast including Li Lihua, who plays Lin Daiyu, and Luo Lan, who plays Wang Xifeng, wear qipaos that are meticulously tailored and bring out the persona of each character.
In "Star of Hong Kong" (1963), Lucilla You Min, who is a Hong Kong medical student studying in Japan, falls in love with a Japanese man played by Akira Takarada. The various qipaos that You wears in the film exude her gracefulness and the character's elegant charm.
In "The Deformed" (1960), the protagonist, played by Betty Loh Ti, joins a rich heir, played by King Hu, in a marriage in name only for the sake of her family. The protagonist's costumes reveal her changing emotions and thoughts, with the traditional qipaos projecting an image of a virtuous woman and the Western dresses symbolising the desire for freedom to love.
During the 1980s and 1990s, retro-themed films were a trend in Hong Kong's film industry. Set in different eras and backgrounds, the qipao costumes of "Red Dust" (1990) and "Center Stage "(1992) were also in a different style. Brigitte Lin portrays a female writer in wartime northeast China in "Red Dust", which sees her attired in loose-fitting outer robes with dark colour tones to accentuate the gloominess of the time and place.The story of "Center Stage" happens in Shanghai in the 1930s. Portraying the film star Ruan Lingyu, Maggie Cheung wears high-necked, figure-hugging qipaos in geometric patterns that display the aesthetics of fashionable Shanghai women of the period.
All screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by renowned fashion designer William Tang, image director Tina Liu, costume director and textile specialist Edith Cheung, Dr Brenda Li, Dr Haze Ng and director Yim Ho.
"Modern 'Red Chamber Dream'" is with Chinese lyrics. "Star of Hong Kong" and "The Deformed" are with Chinese subtitles while "Red Dust" and "Center Stage" are with Chinese and English subtitles.
Tickets priced at $45 are now available 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/web/hkfa/pe-event-2024-qp.html) or call 2739 2139.
The "Cinderella and Her Qipao" exhibition is being held at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA until May 5 next year, displaying 31 pieces of qipao costumes worn by iconic actresses in various films from the 1950s to the 1990s, including Li Lihua in "Red Rose" (1952), Luo Lan in "Modern 'Red Chamber Dream'", Hsia Moon in "Tales of the City" (1954), Betty Loh Ti in "Malayan Affair" (1960), Linda Lin Dai in "The Blue and the Black" (1966), Brigitte Lin in "Red Dust" and Maggie Cheung in "Center Stage".
The LCSD launched the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival in April 2023, aiming to showcase Hong Kong's unique cultural creativity and vibrancy through exhibitions, film screenings and pop concerts. For more information on other fascinating programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en.
Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
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