[Reading Response]-Urban Cinema And The Cultural Identity of Hong Kong by Leung Ping-Kwan

Yinghong Gao – 303627529 

Leung discussed whether Hong Kong (HK) developed its own cultural identity through a series of movies from the 1950s to 1990s. I would like to use films from the 60s to the 70s to demonstrate that HK developed its own cultural identity. In the 60s, there was an influx of Western culture, and the young generation endorsed Western fashion, which also influenced the movies in HK. Especially after the conflict between the working class and the colonial government in 1967, the government intended to present a Westernized version of HK. However, I believe HK movies were still unique in the 60s because films such as “Teddy Girls” reflect the blend of Chinese and Western culture, although Western elements dominate. I see this as the beginning of a trend where HK’s local culture is trying to compete with the West. 

In the 70s, HK directors focused more on the local urban environment through techniques like on-location shootings and refused to accept the identity designed by the government. I believe HK fully developed its identity through urban cinema in the 70s because of the demonstration of the struggles of the underprivileged in local areas and its rebellion against the West. In HK movies, the grandeur of high-rise buildings took center stage, while the factories presented a contrasting view of a different world. Hong Kong’s development outpaced that of China during and after the Cultural Revolution, yet its films captured the distinct challenges the city faced under colonization and industrialization.