Dedicated to cultivating the audience and development of Hong Kong movies, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), provides a selection of movies that celebrates Hong Kong filmmakers.
Featuring the works of emerging Hong Kong filmmakers and paying tribute to legendary film masters, we round up the top three movies not to miss at Hong Kong Arts Centre this month.
Throw Down (Digitally restored)
10/8 (Fri) 7:30pm | 13/8 (Mon) 8pm | 30/8 (Thur) 7:30pm*
*Screenwriter Yau Nai-hoi and guest director Jack Lai will attend after-screening talk.
This month’s ‘Great Hong Kong Movies’ series will showcase Throw Down, released in 2004 as a tribute to the legendary film master Akira Kurosawa. This visually arresting action drama from acclaimed director Johnnie To (Running On, Karma, Breaking News) follows legendary Judo fighter, Sze-To as he unexpectedly gives up his beloved sport and lives life as an alcoholic gambler who runs a pub. After a brash Judo champion newcomer challenges him to duel, Sze-To is encouraged to finish the match that never took place. Soon, Sze-To’s pub becomes the ultimate arena where the greatest Judo fighters show off their skills. Filled with brutality, Throw Down is an emotional tale of one man’s determination to win at all costs.
Hong Kong | 2004 | 95 minutes |
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles | DCP | Colour
Taxi Stories
11/8 (Sat) 7:45pm*
*Post-screening Q&A Session with Director Doris Yeung via Skype
As a celebration of Hong Kong indie movies, ‘Independantly Yours’ makes a comeback as a recurrent screening programme, 20 years after its initial presentation by the HKAC.
First up in this month’s programme is Taxi Stories, a myriad of three stories based in three different Asian cities, where the paths of the rich and poor cross one another in and around taxis. A closeted Beijing taxi driver, a pregnant Hong Kong trophy wife and a Jakarta slum orphan. All three characters are eager to connect on a basic human level but are their own worst obstacles. Showcasing a new world, where social mobility is linked to increasing wealth, this movie explores how money divides and separates each of them, making it tough to for them to be who they really are, not what they appear to be.
Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Netherlands｜2017｜98 min
In Cantonese, English, Indonesian & Putonghua with Chinese & English subtitles｜DCP｜Colour
Small Talk
31/8 (Fri) 7:45pm*
*Post-screening Q&A Session with Director Huang Hui-chen via Skype
The second pick from Hong Kong Art Centre’s ‘Independantly Yours’ programme showcases Small Talk, released in 2016. This movie explores the relationship between a mother and daughter from the young girls eyes. Her mother wakes up well before her, prepares her lunch and takes off. Every evening after eating out, she comes home, washes up and closes her bedroom door, ensuring she is fast sleep by 9pm. While they haved lived in the same house for decades, they live life like they are strangers to each other. Explore the journey as a daughter finally gets the courage to talk to her mother. But will she be ready to hear what she has to say?
Taiwan | 2016 | 88 minutes
In Taiwanese and Mandarin with English subtitles | DCP | Colour
Venue: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
To book tickets: Urbix or call (852) 3761 6661
For more information: www.hkac.org.hk