Leung’s article investigates the relationship between the city and cinema of Hong Kong during different periods, which illustrates how Hong Kong developed its distinct cultural identity. Before Hong Kong was turned over to China in 1949, it was a British colony. However, a unique urban culture was developed. I found it fascinating how cinema influences how people perceive cities and cultures. A Hymn to Mother, which is presented in the text, depicts Hong Kong’s development from a rural to a city. Although Hong Kong was not mentioned as a city at first, the film emphasized that the mother aims to

Continue reading[READING RESPONSE] Leung Ping-kwan: Urban Cinema and The Cultural Identity of Hong Kong

After reading “NOIRS: The City, the Woman and Other Spaces,” I am left with a sense of fascination and introspection. The article delves into the intricate relationship between cinema, urban spaces, and societal hierarchy in 1960s Hong Kong，offering a nuanced perspective on how film reflects and shapes the cultural landscape of a rapidly evolving city. I found the analysis of role of female protagonists in the increasing inequality brought about by the city’s modernization of to be particularly intriguing. It breaks traditional stereotypes about women, depicts they are gradually assuming important responsibilities in society. The awakening and empowerment of women gradually

Continue reading[READIND RESPONSE]Seng, E. Noirs: The City, the Woman and Other Spaces.

This article provides insight into the image of women in Hong Kong movies and their roles in the urban space. Through the discussion of two movie genres, melodrama and noir thriller, the essay reveals the diversity and complexity of women in Hong Kong society. It also illustrates the process of transformation and modernisation of the Hong Kong city through architecture. Intriguing in the article is the movie Black Rose (1965). The “black rose” is a symbolic image commonly used in movies and literature, which represents mystery, danger and attraction. The movie tells the story of the double life of two sisters of

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On the “Urban Cinema and the Cultural Identity of Hong Kong” by Leung Ping-Kwan, this book introduced how cultural identity of Hong Kong has shifted and shaped from the 1950s to the 1990s and how it is portrayed into various art forms, especially in films. Throughout  the reading, I think the author is trying to point out both the Western and Chinese cultural influence to Hong Kong at the same time. Based on the changing political backgrounds in different periods of time, in my opinion, Hong Kong has not only become more distinct from its identity of ‘Chinese’ or ‘Western’

Continue reading[Reading Response] : Urban Cinema and the Cultural Identity of Hong Kong by Leung Ping-Kwan