New Wave, unsurpassed action and martial arts films, international fame, crisis, entering the Chinese market and searching a new identity. Since the 1970s Hong Kong cinema has undergone a substantial transformation and the process is clearly reflected in the programme of the 11th Five Flavours. It brings the New Wave works directed by Ann Hui, whose auteur vision is exemplified by films from each decade of her career, as well as short and long feature debuts from emerging directors. The film programme is completed with a panel discussion focused on the current identity and future of Hong Kong cinema which takes place at the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday.
Portrait: Ann Hui
This year's retrospective brings a deeper overview of pioneering works by one of the most renowned Hong Kong directors. Ann Hui's latest masterpiece, "Our Time Will Come", opens the 11th Five Flavours tonight in Warsaw.
o The Secret, Hong Kong 1979, 90'
o Boat People, Hong Kong/China 1982, 106'
o Summer Snow, Hong Kong 1995, 100'
o The Way We Are, Hong Kong 2008, 90'
o A Simple Life, Hongkong 2011, 118'
o Our Time Will Come, Hongkong/Chiny 2017, 130'
Roger Lee, the producer of "Summer Snow", "A Simple Life" and "Our Time Will Come", is a special guest of the retrospective. The story of his friendship with the real-life Ah Tao was the base for "A Simple Life".
Read more: The Darkest Hour – The Three Years and Eight Months That Changed Hong Kong
Other Hong Kong films:
o Mad World, dir. Wong Chun, Hong Kong 2016, 101' (New Asian Cinema / Asian Cinerama)
o Made in Hong Kong, dir. Fruit Chan, Hong Kong 1997, 108' (Genre Classics)
o Fresh Wave 2017: HK Shorts, Hong Kong 2017, 98' (Special Screenings; admission free)
The programme includes also coproductions that prove unflinching openness of Hong Kong film industry and its international influences:
o Mrs K, dir. Ho Yuhang, Malaysia/Hong Kong/China, 97' (New Asian Cinema)
o Soul Mate, dir. Derek Tsang, China/Hong Kong, 110' (Asian Cinerama)
Debate: Hong Kong Cinema Today – Between Auteur and Mainstream Cinemas
To cultivate Polish audience's deeper interest in Hong Kong cinema, the Asian Film Awards Academy and the Five Flavours Asian Film Festival co-present a panel to discuss the present and future of the city's film culture and industry. The panel comprises Heiward Mak (producer of "Mad World"), Ho Yuhang (screenwriter-director of "Mrs. K"), Lam Wing-sum (screenwriter of "Soul Mate"), directors Ashley Cheung and Michelle Hung and DoP Eric Tsang from the Fresh Wave programme and the Asian Film Awards Academy's programme manager, Jacqueline Tong.
The discussion panel is moderated by Chanel Kong – film critic, Festival Director of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and programmer for festivals such as the London East Asia Film Festival.
The panel is held in English with simultaneous translation into Polish.
18 November, Saturday, 15:30, admission free
Museum of Modern Art, 3 Pańska St
Partners: Asian Film Awards Academy, Museum of Modern Art, Wajda School.
Read more: Young Hong Kong Filmmakers Are Interested in Local Subjects