MADE IN HONG KONG OVER AT THE ICA!

ICA presents:

MADE IN HONG KONG

A season of seven Hong Kong movies from 1997-2007

12 – 16 October, ICA, The Mall, SW1

FULL ALERT / MY LIFE AS MCDULL / PERHAPS LOVE /

MADE IN HONG KONG / AFTER THIS OUR EXILE / GOLDEN CHICKEN /

ORDINARY HEROES

For five days in October the ICA will host a season of films made in Hong Kong over the past 10 years; from the 1997 handover to China to the present day. This decade has seen the film industry in Hong Kong go from strength to strength, creating a new identity while looking back at the area’s history. Among these films, gangland thrillers, a lush musical and a bittersweet piece of animation tackle such issues as identity, the legacy of colonialism and how Hong Kong reacts to mainland China.

Full Alert

12 October: cinema 1

An explosive action thriller featuring starring Ching-wan Lau and Francis Ng, rich on characterisation and punctuated with exciting chase scenes and gunfights. Full Alert was Ringo Lam’s return to Hong Kong movies following his stint making Hollywood-set action films, and his guerrilla film-making style wonderfully captures the sense of the Hong Kong streets. [Dir Ringo Lam, Hong Kong 1997, 99 mins]

My Life as McDull

13, 15 October: cinema 1 & 2

A rare screening of this HK animated classic, a beguiling film about good-natured piglet McDull, who epitomises the spirit of post-1997 Hong Kong. The film follows his life growing up in the slums of Sham Shui Po and features swooping shots of the bustling Kowloon streets, greasy cafes and local characters, fusing animation, photography and computer graphics. [Dir Toe Yuen, Hong Kong 2002, 75 mins]

Perhaps Love

13, 16 October: cinema 1 & 2

This beautifully shot Hollywood-style musical was one of the biggest recent hits in Hong Kong, spinning a delightful love triangle between three of the film’s megastar performers, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhou Xun and Jacky Cheung, with set pieces that are wonderfully staged and on a par with such films as Moulin Rouge. [Dir Peter Chan, Hong Kong 2005, 107 mins]

Made in Hong Kong

14 October: cinema 1

This cult Hong Kong gangster film chronicles three teenagers trying to escape their lives. Fruit Chan’s Hong Kong is more brutal than that presented by the likes of Ringo Lam or John Woo – there are no straightforward gunfights here, instead a menacing cityscape and a backdrop of run-down housing projects. A hit on the festival circuit and previously at the ICA, starring Sam Lee, Neiky Yim and Wenbers Li. [Dir Fruit Chan, Hong Kong 1997, 108 mins]

After This Our Exile

14th, 15th October, Cinema 1 & 2

The director’s cut of this elegantly paced Malaysian-set drama following a debt-ridden father and a heartbreaking father-son relationships. The film marks the return of new-wave luminary Patrick Tam after a 17 year break from film-making. Stars Aaron Kwok and newcomer King-to Ng. [Dir Patrick Tam, Hong Kong 2006, 160 mins]

Golden Chicken

15, 16 October: cinema 1 & 2

Sandra Ng gives a brilliant performance as ‘Golden Chicken’ Ah Kam (“chicken” is slang for a prostitute) in this moving and charming film about a woman’s life story, which also acts as a mirror to the history of Hong Kong over the last 20 years. Terrific supporting cast includes superstars such as Andy Lau and Tony Leung. [Dir Samson Chiu, Hong Kong 2002, 106 mins]

Ordinary Heroes

16 October: cinema 1

Few films have captured Hong Kong’s social movements as vividly as Ann Hui’s award-winning film as it follows a group of ordinary characters – ranging from a fishergirl through to a councilman – as they show courage and resilience against all odds, detailing their unfulfilled dreams and personal disenchantment. Cast includes Anthony Wong, so impressive in Johnny To’s stunning 2006 crime epic Exiled. [Dir Ann Hui, Hong Kong 1999, 128 mins]

Notes to editors:

With thanks to Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (www.hketolondon.gov.hk) and the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society for their co-operation in making the films available, and to Applause, Panorama Distributions, Celestial, MVP, Man 5 Productions, Golden Scene, Wide Vision, Universe, BMA and HK Film Archive for their support.

This London season at the ICA forms part of a Europe wide programme of film festivals celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1997. The HK Film Panorama was set up to present films produced between 1997 and 2007, demonstrating the key role of Hong Kong in the world film industry. HK is the third largest film production centre in the world, and HK actors and directors have been successful Hollywood - and some Hollywood directors are inspired by the work of HK directors. The HK Film Panorama comprises a mix of some old favourites and recent productions. It has already visited Graz, Hamburg, Brussels, Antwerp, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Geneva, Vienna and Berlin, and will also visit Madrid (Oct 07) and Munich (Feb 08).

For further information on the screenings including times and prices please visit: www.ica.org.uk