Hong Kong film festival invades town
Three films hailed as “the most exciting in the world” by Mitch Berman,
will be shown at Cinema 4 Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the Hong Kong Film
Festival.
“They know how to make Hollywood action better than Hollywood,” said
Berman, an English assistant professor. “The cinema of Hong Kong is beginning
to be more exciting than (the cinema) in Hollywood.”
The Hong Kong Film Festival was organized by Mount Pleasant resident Susanne
Lee. The three Hong Kong films to be shown are “A Better Tomorrow,”
“Swordsman II” and ‘Rouge.”
All will have English subtitles and cost $2.
“These films aren’t being shown here,” Lee said. “I thought
it would be fun to bring the films to this community.”
“A Better Tomorrow” and “Swordsman II” have talent community
residents may recognize, Lee said.
“A Better Tomorrow” stars Chow Yun Fat from “Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon” and “Anna and the King.” It is directed by John
Woo who has directed films such as “Mission Impossible II,” “Face
Off” and “Broken Arrow.”
“Swordsman II” stars Jet Li of “Romeo Must Die” and “Lethal
Weapon 4.”
“There is recognition there and that’s how we chose these films,”
Lee said.
“A Better Tomorrow,” will be shown at 6 and 8 p.m. Friday and is influenced
by Hollywood gangster movies, westerns and martial arts films. The story line
follows the conflict between two brothers. One is a former gang member and the
other is a policeman.
“Swordsman II,” will be shown at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday and follows
a swordsman who is about to retire but is forced to battle his nemesis.
“Rouge,” which will be shown at 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday, follows a woman
who forms a suicide pact with her lover when they are forbidden to marry. Fifty
years later the woman searches Hong Kong for her lover who never met her in
the afterlife.
“They’re very interesting films,” Lee said. “It’s an
opportunity to get exposed to different cultures. There’s something for
everyone.”
The film festival is co-sponsored by the Office of Minority Student Services,
Asian Cultural Organization, the broadcast and cinematic arts department, the
Office of Institutional Diversity, the English department, the Office of International
Education and the Multicultural Education Center.
“We’re hoping there will be a good turnout,” Lee said. “There
is a growing group of people who are interested. Hopefully the community will
come out and support it.”
