Zen and Sense in King Hu's Films

Film Screenings


White Powder and Neon Lights

Dir/Scr: Wong Kam-yan (aka Wong Hok-sing)
Prod: Joseph Sunn Jue Prod.Co: Grandview (U.S. Branch)
Cast: Wong Hok-sing, Leung Bik-yuk, Luk Wan-fei, Tang Pui, Liu Kei-wai
1947 / Colour / D Beta / Cantonese / 94min

Opera singer Man-ha (Leung Bik-yuk) is the hugely popular star of San Francisco’s Grandview Theater. However, her fame becomes her downfall as she drowns herself in various big city vices, and her constant absence causes the theater to face bankruptcy. When she discovers the wicked scheme of a rich man who was trying to court her, Man-ha decides to mend her ways and save the theater. Filmed in San Francisco with state-of-the-art Technicolor technology, the film splendidly captures the beauty of both the modern city and the traditional art of Chinese opera. Through Manha, the film teaches the audience not to become over-indulged in life. In the film, the characters are willing to sacrifice personal benefits for the good of the theater, bringing out a message about the need for overseas Chinese to stick together. The finale, featuring a fresh new twist on a traditional opera song, is especially spectacular. Unfortunately, the sound tracks in some of the opera scenes are damaged beyond repair.

15/3 (Sat) 2:30pm Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive  

Post-screening talk with Jack Ng

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