[2024.05.19] SYLVIA CHANG, KAREN MOK PAY TRIBUTE TO HONG KONG FILMS

Sylvia Chang and Karen Mok participate in the filming of a documentary about Hong Kong film
courtesy  of on.cc

Sylvia Chang attends the ceremony before the SHANGHAI BLUES 2024 screening and receives applause from the audience.

The late James Wong composed the SHANGHAI BLUES film score and the theme song NIGHT WIND

Yonfan's lawyer sends a letter to state that he owns the intellectual property rights to the SHANGHAI BLUES story

HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED has 6 directors and 6 short films, of which I WANT TO SEE stars George Lam and Sylvia Chang 

Sammo Hung stars in another short film HAPPY ENEMIES
courtesy of mingpao.com

SHANGHAI BLUES (SEUNG HOI JI YEH) was the first film of the Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun founded Film Workshop in 1984. On the 40th anniversary of the founding, the 4K restored version premiered on May 17 in the "Cannes Classics" section of the Cannes International Film Festival. Although director Yang Fan's lawyer sent a legal letter to Tsui Hark and Shi Nansun's Film Workshop, stating that he still owns the original intellectual property rights of the story, the 4K restored version was still being screened in Cannes as scheduled.

The premiere was held at the Salle Bunuel Cinema, and lead actress Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) returned to Cannes after a long absence, attending the ceremony before the screening as a representative of the film. SHANGHAI BLUES has been meticulously restored under the supervision of director Tsui Hark since last year, in addition to updating the color grading of the picture, there is also all new dubbing so the audience can feel the all new charm of the film. Lead actor Kenny Bee (Chung Chun To) provided his voice for his own role, and the new generation actress Sabrina Zhuang Dafei, hand-picked by Tsui Hark, provided the voice for Sally Yeh (Yip Sin Man)'s role. The purpose of the restoration and screening was not only to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film's release, but also to allow more audiences to experience the enduring appeal of Hong Kong films. The film will gradually be scheduled for release around the world.

Cheung Ngai Ga attended the Cannes screening on May 17. Dressed in white, she received applause from the audience as soon as she took the stage. She first asked the audience, "Have any friends watched SHANGHAI BLUES before?" Many people in the audience raised their hands, and she said happily, "Wow! It's a pleasure to see you again!" Before the screening meeting, she on behalf of producer and director Tsui Hark and producer Shi Nansun greeted the audience and said, "In 1984, the F Workshop was established with the goal of producing films of genres that were outside of convention in the film industry at that time, so the first movie made was SHANGHAI BLUES." Now, 40 years later, the restored version of this film would be more able to reflect the romance and connotation of the film even more. She sentimentally said that she was grateful to be able to see this 4K restored film. "It reminds me of the moments when I worked with director Tsui Hark. This film is not only a movie, but also a precious memory." She said that Tsui Hark asked her to make a special mention of her late friend and the late film score composer James Wong Jim. "Thank you for the romantic atmosphere he brought to this film."

During the screening, the audience responded very enthusiastically. The applause was continuous at the end of the film, and after the lights went back on, the audience still applauded around her for a long time and could not bear to leave. When Cheung Ngai Ga left the scene, some fans asked for autographs. Many of whom were a new generation of fans who just watched SHANGHAI BLUES for the first time and "fell into the gap".

Irene Wan Bik Ha recently flew to France to attend the Cannes Film Festival and promote her new film "The Mermaid on Lying Island", Irene appeared on the red carpet in a white off-the-shoulder dress, exuding a noble elegance. Irene said she was very happy to walk on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet. "This place is so beautiful, I feel so relaxed and really enjoy it. I can also see a lot of French films, communicate with many filmmakers, meet a lot of new friends, and the journey has been very unforgettable."

Irene brought her new film "The Mermaid on Lying Island" to the Cannes Film Festival to recommend to different filmmakers, Irene said that it has been a long time since she has made this kind of dark humor romance, which also includes family and love. It was about the age contrast between women and men, and also life and death. She hoped the film would be able to touch the audience.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board and Double S Entertainment jointly produced the documentary HONG KONG CLASSICS REIMAGINED, which brought together the veterans and new generations on and off camera, divided the classic works into 6 categories of Hong Kong films, and re-shot them into 6 short films to pay tribute to the classic plots and themes of Hong Kong films. Veteran producer Silence Leung Wai Yee was the producer, and invited Wing Shya, Man Lim Chung, Kenji Tanigaki, Lawrence Kan Chun Kwan, Wong Kwok Keung and Lemon Liu Yik Man to direct 6 short films, which were produced by Joseph Chan Sinn-Gi, Julia Chu Ka-yi and Cora Yim Ka-yin. The six short films are ILLICIT (GUM) starring Karen Mok Man Wai, DEJA VU starring Stanley Yau, Ling Man Lung and Angela Yuen Lai Lam, LA ROSE NOIRE VS LA ROSE NOIRE 2023 (HAK MUI GWAI DUI HAK MUI GWAI 2023) starring Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin, Gillian Chung Yun Tung and Kenny Kwan Chi Bun, THE RAW OYSTERS (FOON HEI YUEN GA) starring Sammo Hung Kam Bo, Michelle Yim (Mai Suet), Chu Kam Yin and Jocelyn Chan Ming Hei, PASSION CALL (BIT LEI TUNG) starring Eddie Cheung Siu Fai and Locker Lam Ka Hei, and SOMEWHERE IN TIME (SEUNG GEIN LIU) starring Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) and George Lam Chi Cheung.

Best Actress Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) recently attended the premiere of the documentary film about Hong Kong film HONG KONG CLASSIC REIMAGINED at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was Wing Shya, Man Lim Chung, Lawrence Kan Kwan Chun and others directed. In addition to Cheung Ngai Ga, George Lam Chi Cheung, Karen Mok Man Wai, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Stanley Yau, Angela Yuen Lai Lam and others were invited to participate in the filming and to pay tribute to classic Hong Kong films.

Speaking of the production, Cheung Ngai Ga said, "I have always liked Hong Kong's Star Ferry when I participated in the filming of the romantic chapter this time, but I was the happiest about being able to work with (George) Lam Chi Cheung again. He joked, 'Back then we needed to wear makeup to look old, but now we don't need to.' and we all laughed. I love Hong Kong, it's a blessed place. I hope more people come to Hong Kong, not just to shop, but to explore this beautiful place."

Some of the actors who were unable to go to Cannes in person, including Karen Mok Man Wai and Lam Chi Cheung, also made special videos to cheer the film on.