From Vietnam (1978)
Starring: Lee Kwok-Cheung & Leung Kit-Fong
Director Of Broadcasting Chu Pui-Hing speaks during this particular intro about what types of stories came out of Below The Lion Rock, what creative freedom was bestowed upon the directors and what profiles the series gave birth to. From Vietnam started what was to become a kind of Vietnam-trilogy for Ann Hui. Continued in The Story of Woo Viet and Boat People, especially the former was downbeat gold while this TV short has its moments merely. Detailing the events before coming to Hong Kong from Vietnam and during his stay, teenager Ah Man begins immersing himself into Hong Kong life but carries with him hatred. Hatred for foreigners and with a uncertain future looming, anything can swallow him up it seems. But this applies to his sole contacts in Hong Kong as well: cousin Johnny and painter Chan Zhong, both of which are refugees. Hui speaks of having run away and how you now want dreams to come true. However firmly you stand together though, life just deals you the poorest hand during this time. You may have run but it's either that you treat life ambitions with low expectations or you can expect to perish anytime. Issues are very much easy to relate to and the harsh effect a recognizable aspect that was later much better utilized in the bleak The Story Of Woo Viet so again, the TV work is training ground and not fully realized stories. The fact that Ann Hui is well on her way at this point is assuring however. Watch out for a young Alfred Cheung in a cameo and he would go on to write the eventual award winning script of Hui's The Story of Woo Viet.
Where Are You Going? (1992)
Starring: Hou Dejian, Kim Shi-Kit & Chao Chi-Keung
Producer of Below The Lion Rock and former director of broadcasting Cheung Man-Yee gives us an insight in the shift of focus between the early and latter days of the series before the last short arrives. As this last selection presents this Westerner on the outside looking in troubles in regards to reviewing, the summary of this docu-drama is best quoted from the dvd case:
"Mainland Chinese see him as "Taiwanese", but the Taiwanese regard him as "Chinese". Born in Taiwan, he returned to the Chinese mainland to find his roots, and his hugely popular patriotic song "Descendants of the Dragon" made him the toast of his mainland compatriots. He is the renowned singer-songwriter Hou Dejian.
Director Ann Hui examines this public figure who, as a result of saying he "didn't see anyone get killed" during the events at Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989, became the subject of immense controversy. The film includes interviews with activist leaders Zhou Tuo and Liu Xiaobo, who were there with Hou at the time, as well as sequences featuring the subject himself, giving his own version of how he stood firm and compromised against the pressure exerted on him by the Chinese government. Subsequently, he chose "deportation back to Taiwan", where he was condemned by the public. In the end, where can he find refuge?"
Not being familiar with Huo or the grave details about June 4th, Where Are You Going? is very much a local production or rather for those who sits on more information. Sure research is your best friend but Ann Hui's job as a documentary filmmaker is to provide even new viewers with insight. Through archival footage and contemporary interviews, not all is made clear to me but one issue definitely is. That of media manipulation where you can't afford to be anything but perfectly concrete and clear with them as well as the Chinese government views on free speech, leading to the staged sequences with Huo Dejian. Feeling rather corny after enough of good material in documentary-form prior, the dramatization still touches upon the points I got out of Where Are You Going? but one still wishes a more glossy, full on piece had been done. As it stands now, it portrays a spiral that is interesting but I'm personally, currently left out of its finer points.
Still, Below The Lion Rock and its focus on Ann Hui is in many ways fascinating for the fans, even those like me that sees the uneven nature of her filmography to date. Not the smoothest social commentator always, as also evident throughout the shorts, Ann Hui has a distinct way of dealing with reality that translates on-screen. Out to global viewers even and the fact that she was in development towards logging solid gold feature filmmaking already makes a visit to the atmosphere of Below The Lion Rock very much a worthwhile thing for devotees. |
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