Above: Posters and Pics from the movie 'All About Love'. The words 'Happy Together' refers to homosexuality indirectly in the Chinese context given that its often used in contemporary popular chinese culture since the late 90s (at least in taiwan and hk, maybe not so much mainland china) to refer to a positive connotation of gay relationships.
Ms. Hui, who was born in Anshan (northeast China) but grew up in Hong Kong, made her name with socially conscious dramas such as 1982's "Boat People," about the aftermath of the Vietnam War, starring pop god Andy Lau Tak-wah, and "Ordinary Heroes," a 1999 drama about Hong Kong political activists with Anthony Wong Chau-sang. With the critically acclaimed "The Way We Are" (2008) and "Night and Fog" (2009), she looked unflinchingly at life in Tin Shui Wai, the Hong Kong housing estate that is home to hundreds of disadvantaged families.
Many producers might have shied away from "All About Love" because of its lesbian theme. Homosexual films are banned in China, so it eliminates any chance of distribution there. Indeed, even Ms. Hui says she was surprised when film financier Wong Jing agreed to back her movie.
"All About Love" marks their third film together, but it's an unlikely partnership. Mr. Wong is the king of Chinese B-movies and a savvy entertainment-industry investor, known for churning out soft porn and schlocky action flicks. Ms. Hui's work doesn't fit that mold, and she certainly doesn't churn out films, having been known to take five years on a single project.
For years, Ms. Hui and Mr. Wong even publicly traded barbs. After watching her semi-autobiographical "Song of the Exile," which was released in 1990, Mr. Wong wondered—in a statement that went viral in Hong Kong media—why anyone would pay to see a film about an unattractive middle-aged woman. Aware of the public perception of their history, Ms. Hui chuckles. She says: "Actually, we work very well together. He doesn't bother me, and he has made my work rhythm better, faster."
Some may wonder why Ms. Hui has not made a film in China, but she says she would if it was the right project, one with a Hong Kong point of view that's fitting with her own.
"All About Love" opened last weekend in cinemas around Hong Kong.
The movie which I was looking forward to by my childhood and adolescent growing up yrs fav comedic star Sandra Ng and recent fav Vivian Chow has screened recently:-) It's called 'All About Love'. I have mentioned this film before and it is Vivian's 13 year absence comeback film.;-) Can't wait to catch it. Another lesbian film of interest, which I found out about recently is the UK/South African film 'World Unseen'; trailer here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlD3EprZp5M It is set in 1950s apartheid era South Africa about the lovestory between two Indian women (there is a substantial Indian minority in SA), one liberal and open and the other conservative and traditional. Looks interesting judging from the trailer alone:-)
Below is an article about the movie 'All about Love' which i found on the Wall Street Journal online version:
Hong Kong: A Love Story
By ALEXANDRA A. SENO
With her latest film, "All About Love," director Ann Hui On-wah writes another heartfelt letter to her home, Hong Kong. Like her other works, this story, a romantic comedy about a pair of bisexual women who are pregnant, highlights aspects of the island's current social issues and is set in Hong Kong's upwardly mobile Mid-Levels neighborhood.
"I make films because I really want to find out what Hong Kong is like at the moment," says the 63-year-old Ms. Hui.
When two former lovers—30-something Macy, a lawyer, and Anita, a banker—meet at a counseling session for expectant mothers, they fall in love again in a tale that plays out against familiar Hong Kong backdrops: offices, bars and restaurants near trendy Hollywood Road; gyms and yoga studios. The overhang of personal financial insecurity and the local penchant for political and social demonstrations make their way into the film, too. Along the way, the couple's story touches on sexual politics, ostracism and the idea of a Hong Kong identity.
"It is a serious film but it is also very commercial," says Ms. Hui, a graduate of the London International Film School. "Sometimes it is better to make serious issues more acceptable to audiences, by making it a comedy and having big stars so that people will come watch the movie." In the movie, Hong Kong's top comedian Sandra Ng Kwan-yue plays Macy; Anita is played by the pretty 1990s pop singer Vivian Chow Wai-man.
"This is a movie about relationships," adds Ms. Hui. The topic was an obstacle for some.
"It was not easy to make this film happen," says Yeeshan Yang, an anthropoligist-turned-screenwriter who wrote the film. "Ann has [a good] reputation, so she has a lot of independence with what she does."
Ms. Yang credits the director with making the male-female relationships in the story much more accessible: In the film, Macy's old boyfriend—and father of her baby—is a former client who beat his wife; Anita's baby was fathered by a much younger man she met online.
By ALEXANDRA A. SENO
With her latest film, "All About Love," director Ann Hui On-wah writes another heartfelt letter to her home, Hong Kong. Like her other works, this story, a romantic comedy about a pair of bisexual women who are pregnant, highlights aspects of the island's current social issues and is set in Hong Kong's upwardly mobile Mid-Levels neighborhood.
"I make films because I really want to find out what Hong Kong is like at the moment," says the 63-year-old Ms. Hui.
When two former lovers—30-something Macy, a lawyer, and Anita, a banker—meet at a counseling session for expectant mothers, they fall in love again in a tale that plays out against familiar Hong Kong backdrops: offices, bars and restaurants near trendy Hollywood Road; gyms and yoga studios. The overhang of personal financial insecurity and the local penchant for political and social demonstrations make their way into the film, too. Along the way, the couple's story touches on sexual politics, ostracism and the idea of a Hong Kong identity.
"It is a serious film but it is also very commercial," says Ms. Hui, a graduate of the London International Film School. "Sometimes it is better to make serious issues more acceptable to audiences, by making it a comedy and having big stars so that people will come watch the movie." In the movie, Hong Kong's top comedian Sandra Ng Kwan-yue plays Macy; Anita is played by the pretty 1990s pop singer Vivian Chow Wai-man.
"This is a movie about relationships," adds Ms. Hui. The topic was an obstacle for some.
"It was not easy to make this film happen," says Yeeshan Yang, an anthropoligist-turned-screenwriter who wrote the film. "Ann has [a good] reputation, so she has a lot of independence with what she does."
Ms. Yang credits the director with making the male-female relationships in the story much more accessible: In the film, Macy's old boyfriend—and father of her baby—is a former client who beat his wife; Anita's baby was fathered by a much younger man she met online.
Ms. Hui, who was born in Anshan (northeast China) but grew up in Hong Kong, made her name with socially conscious dramas such as 1982's "Boat People," about the aftermath of the Vietnam War, starring pop god Andy Lau Tak-wah, and "Ordinary Heroes," a 1999 drama about Hong Kong political activists with Anthony Wong Chau-sang. With the critically acclaimed "The Way We Are" (2008) and "Night and Fog" (2009), she looked unflinchingly at life in Tin Shui Wai, the Hong Kong housing estate that is home to hundreds of disadvantaged families.
Many producers might have shied away from "All About Love" because of its lesbian theme. Homosexual films are banned in China, so it eliminates any chance of distribution there. Indeed, even Ms. Hui says she was surprised when film financier Wong Jing agreed to back her movie.
"All About Love" marks their third film together, but it's an unlikely partnership. Mr. Wong is the king of Chinese B-movies and a savvy entertainment-industry investor, known for churning out soft porn and schlocky action flicks. Ms. Hui's work doesn't fit that mold, and she certainly doesn't churn out films, having been known to take five years on a single project.
For years, Ms. Hui and Mr. Wong even publicly traded barbs. After watching her semi-autobiographical "Song of the Exile," which was released in 1990, Mr. Wong wondered—in a statement that went viral in Hong Kong media—why anyone would pay to see a film about an unattractive middle-aged woman. Aware of the public perception of their history, Ms. Hui chuckles. She says: "Actually, we work very well together. He doesn't bother me, and he has made my work rhythm better, faster."
Some may wonder why Ms. Hui has not made a film in China, but she says she would if it was the right project, one with a Hong Kong point of view that's fitting with her own.
"All About Love" opened last weekend in cinemas around Hong Kong.
Hope to see it in Australia at some cinema or film festival soon!;-)
2 comments:
wow vivian is still pretty!!!!!
fufu: Tell me about it,I know..hehe..I like her alot recently!
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