[FIELDWORK] Still Human, Oliver Chan (2019)            Oi-Man Estate, Ho Man Tin, Hong Kong Directed by Oliver Chan, Still Human was released in April 2019. Portraying a genuine relationship happening in Oi-Man Estate between two socially-ostracized dwellers Cheong-wing, a disabled man who lost enthusiasm in life, and Evelyn, a Filipino who came Hong Kong working as a domestic helper to pursue her goals in life, the film hints at multiple Hong Kong social issues. To Evelyn, Oi-Man Estate has transcended to a space from a place as her bonding with Cheong-wing strengthens. The film begins with

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] Still Human, Oi-Man Estate

GHOST IN THE SHELL, DIR. RUPERT SANDERS (2017) Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Hong Kong Cultural Centre portrayed as Section 9 Headquarters in the movie. Scene from Ghost in the Shell, 2017, directed by Rupert Sanders. Directed by Rupert Sanders, Ghost in the shell is a 2017 film set in the year 2029, where humans are able to be augmented with cybernetic improvements, such as vision, strength, and intelligence. The main character, Killian, acts as a Major in Section 9, a counter-terrorism bureau fighting against cyberterrorist attacks. In the movie, Killian looks for a hacker who

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] GHOST IN THE SHELL, HONG KONG CULTURAL CENTRE

PARASITE, DIR. BONG JOON-HO (2019)            Doijissal Supermarket, Seongbuk-dong, Staircase to Jahamun Tunnel, South Korea Parasite (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho, is a Korean black comedy film that deals with the conflict between the lower-calls and the upper-class. The Kim family, who lives on the edge of poverty, was spending their whole time folding pizza boxes and stealing wifi from the cafe nearby for their living. They live in a semi-basement flat, which is hugely unsanitary living condition. Whereas, the Park family is the wealthy one, who lives in a luxury house designed by a famed

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] PARASITE, SEOUL, KOREA

THE GOD OF COOKERY, DIR. STEPHEN CHOW (1996)            Tang Ancestral Hall, Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long, N.T. The Star Overseas Limited released The God of Cookery in December 1996. The film is one of the masterpieces of Stephen Chow. It is about the main character Stephen Chow (same character name with his real name) how to comprehend the truth of being the god of cookery after a series of trials. In the film, Chow was saved by a monastery abbot and brings him back to the Shaolin Temple where is also called the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] THE GOD OF COOKERY, TANG ANCESTRAL HALL

SPARROW, DIR. JOHNNIE TO (2008)            Pottinger Street, Central, Mid-Levels District, Hong Kong The film tells a story about a group of pickpockets. One day, when Kei, the protagonist of the film and the leader of the pickpocket group, was casually taking street photos with his vintage Rolleiflex, a stunning lady suddenly appears through the camera lens as he captured this unpredictable moment right away. After that, every member of the pickpocket group had an encounter with that lady as she requested them for help using their skillsets. It was later revealed that the pickpocket group was lured

Continue reading[FIELD REPORT] SPARROW (2008), POTTINGER STREET

CRAZY ALIEN, DIR. NING HAO (2019)            Wenyun Street and North Cai’e Road, Furong District, Changsha The alien escaped when Geng Hao and Shen Tengfei were quarreling, then the two men started chasing after the running alien. The clip is from Crazy Alien 2019, directed by Ning Hao. Crazy Alien 2019 is a science-fiction comedy film released during the Chinese Spring Festival. It tells the story of an alien’s adventure on the earth. Coming out in the lunar Chinese New Year, it has to fulfill audience’ expectation to be amusing, exciting and fast-paced. This might be a

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] CRAZY ALIEN, CHANGSHA HUNAN

FIGHT BACK TO SCHOOL, DIR. GORDON CHAN (1991) Shatin College, Shatin District, Hong Kong Note:A panoramic  shot of the school and its surroundings. Released by Orange Sky Golden Harvest in 1991, Fight Back To School would go on to become the year’s highest grossing film and also marks the beginning of a series that would captivate not just local, but an international audience as well, if its various adaptations in different languages are anything to go by. The film follows Chow-Sing-Sing (Played by Stephan Chow), an undercover cop posing as a student to recover a stolen weapon. Along with his

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] Fight Back To School-Then and Now

AS TEARS GO BY, DIR. KAR-WAI WONG (1988)            Yau Ma Tei Theatre & Portland St., Kowloon District, Hong Kong   Wah, the head of Fly, is persuading Fly to give up dangerous actions and sell fish balls for living. Fly’s street stall is located at Yau Ma Tei Theatre at the Reclamation Street. Scenes from the In-gear Film’s As Tears Go By 1988, directed by Kar-wai Wong. As Tears Go By (Chinese Title: Mongkok Carmen) is the debut film of Kar-wai Wong’s as a director, who is now putatively a fame-winning director by his hetrodox methods

Continue reading[FIELDWORK] AS TEARS GO BY, YAU MA TEI & MONGKOK