In honor of the tenth anniversary of the Freer Gallery's Made in Hong Kong Film Festival, we celebrate the rich history of Hong Kong cinema by presenting a selection of classic movies along with recent releases. This series is cosponsored with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. All films are in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles unless noted otherwise.
Throw Down
Kung Fu Hustle
DragonBlade
Love Eterne
Come Drink with Me
Security Unlimited
Hong Kong Cinema: Looking Ahead, Looking Back
Police Story
The Killer
More film at the Freer
All films are shown in the Meyer Auditorium.
Friday, July 8, 7 pm
Sunday, July 10, 2 pm
A tribute to the great Akira Kurosawa, the grace and beauty of judo, and the neon-lit nighttime streets of Hong Kong, this wonderfully deadpan comedy was directed by Johnnie To, one of Hong Kong's most talented and prolific auteurs. It follows the exploits of an alcoholic former judo champion who now runs a seedy bar and the young disciple who tries to convince him to return to the sport he once loved. 2004, 95 min.
Friday, July 15, 7 pm
Sunday, July 17, 2 pm
Stephen Chow, the clown prince of Hong Kong cinema, has made a career out of mercilessly lampooning everything from sports to cherished Chinese legends. His latest is an anarchic, relentlessly hilarious homage to—and parody of—classic martial arts movies. Featuring a cast of legendary Hong Kong action stars, it pits the ragtag denizens of a rundown slum against the dapper and ruthless Axe Gang in action sequences fueled by some of the most outrageous special effects ever devised. 2004, 95 min., Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles
Friday, July 22, 7 pm
Sunday, July 24, 2 pm
Don't miss the chance to see Hong Kong's first CGI-animated blockbuster. Every bit as dazzling to watch as Shrek or The Incredibles, Antony Szeto's fantastic fable follows a teenage martial arts fanatic who sets out on an adventure in search of the legendary DragonBlade, a magical weapon that can only be wielded by the pure of heart and noble of spirit. 2005, 82 min.
Friday, July 29, 7 pm
Sunday, July 31, 2 pm
One of the all-time Hong Kong classics, this film directed by Han Hsiang-li tells the story of a young woman in fourth-century China who, against her parents' wishes, disguises herself as a man so she can go away to school. While there, she secretly falls in love with another young scholar. Will she be able to reveal her secret before it is too late? Adapted from the famous Chinese opera The Butterfly Lovers, this lavish production by the famed Shaw Brothers Studio features singing, dancing, beautiful traditional music, and colorful sets. 1962 / 123 min. / Mandarin with English and Chinese subtitles
Friday, August 5, 7 pm
Sunday, August 7, 2 pm
King Hu, the godfather of Hong Kong action movies, perfected the gravity-defying fight scenes that characterize Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero. In this, one of his greatest films, female action star Cheng Pei-pei plays Golden Swallow, a fierce warrior who, with the help of a mysterious kung fu master disguised as a drunken beggar, takes on a gang of thugs that kidnapped her brother. The film's gracefully choreographed action scenes are as powerful today as they were four decades ago. 1966 / 90 min. / Mandarin with English and Chinese subtitles
Friday, August 12. 7 pm
Sunday, August 14, 2 pm
The Hui Brothers—Michael, Sam, and Ricky—were the kings of Hong Kong comedy in the 1970s and 1980s, regularly delighting audiences with their goofball antics. In this last feature together, the famous comedy brothers act as a trio of bungling security guards who, in a nonstop parade of hilarious gags, foil a gang of determined villains. 1981 / 91 min.
Saturday, August 13, 2005, 1 pm
Join us for a lively panel discussion between three Hong Kong film experts on the past and future of Hong Kong cinema. Panelists:
• David Chute, a film critic who is a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times, Film Comment, Premiere, and the LA Weekly. He is completing a book for Faber & Faber on Chinese martial arts movies.
• Jeff Yang, author of the books Once Upon a Time in China: A Guide to the Cinemas of Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan, and Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture from Astro Boy to Zen Buddhism. He is also a columnist for SFgate.com
• Philip Lee, a seasoned veteran of the Asian film industry, whose career as a producer spans more than 25 years, working on such films as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Zhang Yimou's Hero. He is currently a Visiting Professor at the Taipei National University of the Arts.
Followed by:
Iron Monkey
Directed by legendary martial arts fight choreographer Yuen Wo-ping and featuring international action star Donnie Yen at his athletic best, Iron Monkey is a prime example of what makes Hong Kong action movies so appealing. A Robin Hood-style tale about a town terrorized by a masked bandit, it build up to one of the most elaborate fight scenes ever put on film. A must-see for all fans of Hong Kong movies. (1993, 90 min., Cantonese with English subtitles.)
Friday, August 19, 7 pm
Sunday, August 21, 2 pm
Worldwide superstar Jackie Chan first made a name for himself as the director and star of this caper about a cop tracking down the drug kingpin who framed him for murder. A showcase for Chan's incredible athletic prowess and split-second timing, it shows off the effortless charisma and sparkling sense of humor that make him one of Hong Kong's greatest stars. 1985 / 96 min.
Friday, August 26, 7 pm
Sunday, August 28, 2 pm
No celebration of Hong Kong cinema would be complete without a contribution from John Woo, who led the Hong Kong action movie renaissance in the 1980s with his stylized odes to bloodshed and brotherhood. This film, with its Shakespearean plot and stunning, operatic shootouts, presents him at the top of his game. Chow Yun-fat plays an assassin who accidentally blinds a beautiful lounge singer. He resolves to pull one last job so he can pay for her operation. Danny Lee plays the cop on his trail who soon realizes that this is no ordinary criminal. 1989 / 110 min.