Focus Hong Kong returns to celebrate the Year of the Tiger in London cinemas with a series of very special Chinese New Year screenings of beloved Hong Kong films. Running January 25 to 29, the programme includes the UK Premiere of the new 4K restoration of An Autumn’s Tale at BFI Southbank and a rare double bill of Stephen Chow’s classic A Chinese Odyssey Part One and Part Two at Genesis Cinema. Supported by The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, the CNY in-person screenings welcome Hong Kong film fans back to cinemas, offering a rare chance to catch the seminal classics on the big screen.
Screening in a newly remastered 4K version, An Autumn’s Tale follows a naïve young woman (Cherie Chung) who moves to New York to be with her boyfriend, and who when things don’t work out is taken under the wing of a streetwise cabbie (Chow Yun-fat). Acclaimed director Mabel Cheung’s second feature is an enduring classic of modern Hong Kong cinema which won multiple awards on its original release in 1987. With powerful performances and a moving mix of romance and social drama, the film remains incredibly popular today, with its exploration of immigrant experiences feeling ever more timely.
Stephen Chow’s A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box and Part Two: Cinderella were massive hits at the domestic box office on their release in 1995, and are considered among the very best modern Hong Kong films, having become a much-loved Chinese New Year tradition. Mixing fantasy and comedy, the films are Chow’s wild reinvention of A Journey to the West, set in ancient China and with Chow as shabby gang boss Joker, who’s actually the reincarnation of the Monkey King, banished from the heavens after angering the gods. Pushed by a pair of demonic sisters (Yammie Lam and Karen Mok), Joker joins the Longevity Monk (Law Kar Ying) on his quest for holy scriptures, encountering a series of outlandish characters as his adventures lead him to uncover his destiny.
With Stephen Chow already a megastar in China, A Chinese Odyssey helped introduce his work to audiences around the world, paving the way for his later blockbusters Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle and The Mermaid. By turns hilarious, thrilling and moving, the two films are endlessly entertaining and provide a perfect showcase for Chow’s talents, backed by an all-star cast of famous Hong Kong faces and some fantastic special effects.
• An Autumn’s Tale screens at BFI Southbank on Tuesday 25 January 2022 at 8:15 pm
• A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box and Part Two: Cinderella screen as a double bill at Genesis Cinema on Saturday 29 January 2022 from 2:00pm
• Tickets and more information: https://focushongkong.uk
