And then a miraculous turnaround happened.
Is Hong Kong cinema dead? No, an exciting new generation of filmmakers says
Shortly after pandemic-set family comedy Chilli Laugh Story and showbiz drama Mama’s Affair, both vehicles for members of the popular Cantopop boy band Mirror, opened to unusually enthusiastic box office responses, a pair of Hong Kong productions followed in late August that rewrote the history books.
Warriors of Future is a years-in-the-making, mega-budget sci-fi production spearheaded by actor-producer Louis Koo Tin-lok – a visually spectacular action thriller with a totally generic story.
Spurred by news of the film’s lacklustre performance at the box office in mainland China, an outpouring of support emerged on social media that painted Koo as the good guy of Hong Kong cinema, and Warriors of Future duly defied all odds to take over HK$83 million (US$10.6 million) in the city and become the highest grossing local film … of all time.
Table for Six, a wordy comedy that arguably does not include one bona fide movie star in its ensemble cast, opened two weeks after Warriors of Future – and went on to become the second highest grossing Hong Kong film ever, only beaten by Koo’s sci-fi spectacle.
Whether because of the prevailing social sentiment in the city or the dearth of tent-pole Hollywood productions being released in this pandemic era, audiences for Hong Kong films are flocking to cinemas with a vengeance.The 12 movies that defined Hong Kong cinema in the past 25 years
Even The Sparring Partner, a murder mystery that was given a Category III rating (meaning only persons aged 18 and above can see it) and has no bankable stars in its cast, had managed to hit the HK$38 million mark at the Hong Kong box office by press time.
This sudden surge of interest in the work of local filmmakers has seemingly come at just the right moment. While it has been said many times that a new generation of Hong Kong directors is on the rise, 2022 pretty much confirmed this as a new golden age of filmmaking in the city.
Almost every film ranked in the top half of this year-end list is a Hong Kong director’s first or second feature-length production.
And, as a critic who has reviewed every notable Hong Kong film released in the past 15 years, I can say that almost all the Hong Kong directorial debuts of 2022 – including several that have premiered at festivals but are yet to open in cinemas (and thus are not included below) – are of undeniable merit.
Here is our list, ranked from worst to best, of Hong Kong films released in the past 12 months.
24. A Murder Erased
A detective mystery so abysmally conceived it has to be seen to be believed, the latest feature by B-movie veteran Dennis Law Sau-yiu adopts the intriguing premise of an unsolved murder case and takes forever to lay out its characters’ backgrounds and motives, before squandering all its potential with a train wreck of a third act.
The closing monologue, combining laughable philosophising and scatological metaphor, is one for the hall of shame. Read the full review23. Burning
This thoroughly forgettable movie, directed by radio host turned filmmaker Benny Lau Wai-hang, is a Fatal Attraction rip-off in which there are minimal thrills, the protagonists never have passionate sex, and the acting is so mediocre you’d hope you’re re-watching that old movie instead.
Burning is so badly conceived it doesn’t even provide the guilty pleasure this kind of trashy genre outing usually wears as a badge of honour. Read the full review22. Love Is Blind, Hate Too
Ostensibly a homage to those early 1990s Hong Kong Category III movies which juxtaposed soft-core porn with sordid portrayals of criminal acts, Patrick Kong Pak-leung’s psychological thriller has some unabashedly misogynistic sensibilities.
Suspense and terror are both absent from this movie, which feels like it’s compiled from plot turns that you’ve seen a thousand times before, and were likely done a thousand times better than they are here. Read the full review21. Look Up
An omnibus feature co-presented by four of Hong Kong’s most prominent film companies to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty, Look Up tells bland and corny personal stories that in no way do justice to the historic moment.
Most involve young men who are too busy chasing their dreams to, uh, look up to their elders, whose tough love and fading cultural traditions inevitably prove to be the goods. Read the full review20. Love Suddenly
Nobody, except perhaps intoxicated lovebirds on first dates on Valentine’s Day, should be expected to merrily sit through Love Suddenly, a Hong Kong ensemble romantic comedy so inadequately conceived and badly acted that it somehow makes 93 minutes feel. Like. Forever.
It follows four pairs of lovers or would-be lovers who find themselves in various nonsensical situations conjured from embarrassing attempts at humour. Read the full review19. Just 1 Day
A terminal illness romance with a faint touch of whimsy, Just 1 Day marks the latest collaboration between writer-director Erica Li Man and actress Charlene Choi Cheuk-yin.
Also starring comedian Wong Cho-lam as an ALS patient, the film proves to be little more than a sweet trifle. Even its socially resonant message of how urban renewal has wiped out the memories of generations of people is eclipsed by the waves of sheer banality on display. Read the full review18. Come Back Home
Hong Kong movie star Donnie Yen Ji-dan puts aside his martial arts hero image to play a father in distress in Come Back Home, a Chinese rescue drama that is considerably less memorable for the few action sequences it offers than for some of the infuriatingly illogical actions of its protagonists.While Yen displays composure in this dramatic role, Lo Chi-leung’s film is nevertheless quite a tiring watch with its disjointed and often ineffective storytelling. Read the full review17. Breakout Brothers 2
This sequel pales next to its surprisingly entertaining predecessor in almost every department under the law of diminishing returns. The novelty of the characters has worn off, the jokes are often not as funny, and the escape plan is not nearly as smart or convincing as in the first film.There remain a few inspired moments of comic timing. Yet even next to the modest gem that was the first movie, Breakout Brothers 2 feels lightweight. Read the full review16. Life Must Go On
Ying Chi-wen’s directing debut is a zany sports comedy that attempts to cheer up its audience with plenty of life-affirming quotes wrapped around an underdeveloped story.
Like life itself, Life Must Go On has its glorious moments and is entertaining enough to sit through. It’s also inadequately plotted and rather wasteful of its uniformly endearing cast, leaving a lingering sense of regret when it’s all over. Read the full review15. Detective vs Sleuths
The latest film from Milkyway Image co-founder Wai Ka-fai has a captivating premise that simultaneously makes fun of the vigilante characters’ ridiculously over-the-top revenge plans and implicates the police in the injustice caused by a combination of their poor judgment and ulterior motives.
Unfortunately, its relentless parade of shoot-outs and explosions also make this quite an exhausting watch. Read the full review14. Breakout Brothers 3
Released a mere five weeks after Breakout Brothers 2 opened without ceremony in Hong Kong cinemas, this third and final instalment in one of the most unexpected Hong Kong film trilogies in recent memory completes a diverting series of stories based on the formulaic prison break premise.
Those who stick it out to the end with this likeable group of characters won’t find themselves too disappointed with the overall journey. Read the full review13. Let It Ghost
Less a horror comedy and more a silly sketch show featuring (at least) one ghost character in each of its three playfully narrated stories, Wong Hoi’s directing debut doesn’t offer any real scares to sate the appetite of traditional horror fans.
Then again, the trendy cast and penchant for admirably executed deadpan nonsense may lead to this film becoming a cult favourite; it works well as a black comedy cruising on its strong local flavour and sentiments. Read the full review12. Sunshine of My Life
The joys and sorrows of living with blind parents are affectionately portrayed in Sunshine of My Life, the film-directing debut of Hong Kong theatre actress and playwright Judy Chu Fung-han.
Chu channels her own experiences of growing up in such a family into the screenplay of this semi-autobiographical drama for a rose-tinted view of an understandably difficult upbringing. Still, most of the emotions captured here feel genuine. Read the full review11. Pretty Heart
From its obvious title to its corny synopsis, this well-intentioned movie could easily have become another didactic and unoriginal feature about education. Yet Pretty Heart somehow proves thoroughly pleasant viewing.
First-time director Terry Ng Ka-wai shows his ability to find subtlety in banal scenarios and extract charismatic performances from his actors. This may well be Jennifer Yu Heung-ying’s best performance to date. Read the full review10. Warriors of Future
A hugely ambitious and expensive production that has spent way too many years in production, this passion project of Louis Koo Tin-lok will easily win over special effects aficionados with its wall-to-wall dystopian visual details.
Genuine science fiction fans are entitled to feel a tad underwhelmed by the utterly generic screenplay, however; most of its fantasy action elements, while fun to watch, are plucked from significantly better sci-fi movies. Read the full review9. Tales from the Occult
This three-part omnibus film – with segments directed by Wesley Hoi Ip-sang, Fruit Chan Gor and Fung Chih-chiang – is a notable example of the brief renaissance of lower-budget horror movies currently making its mark on the Hong Kong film industry.
Taken together, the parts of Tales from the Occult make a consistently atmospheric whole – and offer a welcome change of pace in Hong Kong horror cinema, which has grown increasingly stale. Read the full review8. Far Far Away
Amos Why’s third feature is a must-see for anyone with the slightest interest in the city’s geography and cultural heritage. It is a breezy comedy in which a socially awkward young man flirts with several beautiful women who live in some of the most far-flung corners of Hong Kong.
A light and amusing drama peppered with witty and socially conscious dialogue, Wong’s film means a whole lot more to those who consider Hong Kong their home. Read the full review7. Chilli Laugh Story
Anyone seeking a window on life for the past two years in post-protest and mid-pandemic Hong Kong could do worse than watch Chilli Laugh Story.
An amusing and sometimes unexpectedly poignant comedy directed by first-time filmmaker Coba Cheng Tsun-hin, it has something for everyone to savour, serving up a welcome mix of Cantonese wordplay, dirty jokes, pop culture references and perceptive social commentary. Read the full review6. Mama’s Affair
A pop idol is born in Mama’s Affair, and the experience of attaining stardom at once allows the young man in question to put a tragic past behind him and restores harmony to his artiste manager’s quietly disintegrating family.
Starring Keung To and Jer Lau Ying-ting of the boy band Mirror, Kearen Pang Sau-wai’s second film is a nuanced portrait of loneliness and human connection set partly on the fringes of Hong Kong’s entertainment business. Read the full review5. Septet: The Story of Hong Kong
Seven of Hong Kong’s best known directors capture their deeply personal feelings for the city on film in this omnibus feature, produced by Johnnie To Kei-fung. It is an alternately warm, funny and touching experience, providing an authentic, sometimes emotional, look back at a Hong Kong that will never be the same again.
This is essential viewing for anyone who has a special affinity for Hong Kong and its once glorious cinematic tradition. Read the full review4. Table for Six
A dialogue-driven ensemble comedy that takes place over several dinners in one single location among a cast of six characters, this second feature by writer-director Sunny Chan Wing-sun is an ambitious take on the cinematic chat fest tradition that relies on the actors’ sharp comic timing, some awkward scenarios straight out of sitcoms, and a litany of clever wordplay to sustain interest.
While things do get farcical, his story never loses touch with its heartwarming core. Read the full review3. The Sparring Partner
A 2013 double murder provides the inspiration for The Sparring Partner. The directorial debut of Ho Cheuk-tin, this mixes murder mystery and courtroom drama with sprawling meditations on human nature, truth and the state of the city’s law enforcement environment.
Both Yeung Wai-lun, as the killer, and Mak Pui-tung, as his dim-witted friend and possible accomplice, mesmerise with their sweaty and occasionally chilling turns. Read the full review2. The Narrow Road
The plight of Hong Kong’s working class during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic is poignantly dramatised in The Narrow Road, which sees a man and a woman, both financially stricken, form a bond that offers solace from their personal struggles – before threatening to tear them apart again.
If this turns out to be the final film that Lam Sum shoots in Hong Kong, he has left a fitting farewell to his home city: it is beautiful and sad and uncharacteristically full of hope. Read the full review1. Hong Kong Family
Members of an ordinary working-class family that imploded on a winter solstice several years ago try to pick up the pieces in Hong Kong Family, an ensemble drama marked by the assured storytelling of first-time director Eric Tsang Hing-weng and the range of wonderfully naturalistic performances he has elicited from the cast.
The film is an authentic, understated and occasionally deeply touching look at the limits of communication in a traditional Chinese household. Read the full reviewWant more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on FacebookncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuaqyxKyrsqSVZLKvwMSrq5qhnqKyr8COmqmtoZOhsnB%2FkWlrbGtiZL%2Biusqem2avn6fAtXnBnqqtZZWrsrPFjKGmp59doLyvs4yfoKWlXaeyrbHArJydZWJlf3N52J6Yq2WWnrmuucCkoKefXZi2tcWMrayrppWZeqS70aecqw%3D%3D