Hoeng gong saam bou kuk (2015)

A story of Hong Kong told by three generations of real people: 'preschooled' children, 'preoccupied' young people, and 'preposterous' senior citizens.

Director:

Christopher Doyle

Stars:

Alex Bedwell, Jason Cheung, Selene Cheung

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alex Bedwell	...	Drummer
Jason Cheung	...	Guitarist
Selene Cheung	...	Teacher Selene
Thierry Chow	...	Feng Shui Master : Thierry
Pui Kit Chung	...	Pet Shop Boy
Chi-Kui Fong	...	Policeman
Ping Yuk Fong	...	Policewoman
South Ho	...	Farmer : South
Kevin Lau	...	Beatbox
Winnie Lau	...	Violinist and Bartender
Ching Man Lip	...	Little Red Cap : Ching Man
Miso	...	Art Activist : Miso
Hariyani Phaynie	...	Vodka's Maid : Yan Yan
Kevin Sherlock	...	Teacher Kevin
Sherin Siew	...	Pianist

Storyline

"Hong Kong Trilogy: Preschooled Preoccupied Preposterous" is a story of Hong Kong told by three generations: "Preschooled" children, "Preoccupied" young people, and "Preposterous" senior citizens. We spent a year recording interviews with over a hundred people of all ages and backgrounds. These recordings are edited to make a blueprint for the film. From this, we created a quasi-fictional narrative that the real (non-actor) person acts out while we hear (in voice-over) how they see and experience the world. In "Preschooled," "Little Red Cap" tries to resolve the question "Why are there so many gods in this world? Is it because so many people need to be saved?" by evangelizing all the major faiths to her schoolmates. "Vodka Wong" releases plastic turtles to redeem the bad karma that resulted from his parents' neglect of him. In "Preoccupied," young people occupy the streets of Central, Hong Kong. They stop the city to think about what they want for their future. Twenty-eight-year-old "...

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

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User Reviews

Fanciful, Colorful and Radiant

Chilling with flamingos, giving people little tarts to cheer them up, waterfalls, a mailbox to the future, sprinkling holy water on flowers as well as people, jazz jam sessions, ocean waves, notes scrawled on little paper umbrellas, and beer runs; the film is like taking a fanciful walk through the city and discovering stories, wisdom and beauty around each turn. They are real stories from real people. The stories are revealed in a way that allows viewers to think that they were stumbled upon by chance, just like a walk around the block. Viewers are privy to interesting and enchanting conversations. "If I pretend not to hear adults," says a child, "they disappear." "People make a place special," says a young architecture student. "Appearance is a manifestation of how we are inside, and it may represent our past or future just as much as the present." The scenes are improvised and loosely organized, yet brilliant and fun, just like the play of children, a flowing stream or the mischievous banter from the director (who sat a few feet from me during the question and answer session in the little Jackson Art Museum theater).

The film matches the personality of the director perfectly. Doyle is a cinematography guru, and he does not fail to amaze in this respect. The camera-work is fanciful, colorful and radiant, like a butterfly, flitting around little figures, pausing on bits of nectar, and providing glimpses from different angles and perspectives that complement the characters rather than detract from them. Four and a half of five stars. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015. An aside; Christopher Doyle on the traditional three act structure taught in film school; "fuck the three act structure!"

Details

Official Sites:

Official Website

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin English

Release Date:

22 September 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hoeng gong saam bou kuk

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color