'Crossing Hennessy', 'Big Blue Lake' and 'Flowing Stories': Re-centring the local in recent Hong Kong Cinema

Willis, ATJ

Abstract

A number of observers of the Hong Kong film industry have identified and discussed the seemingly inexorable drift of major Hong Kong creative talents towards the perceived riches and box office rewards on offer in mainland China. At the same time as a number of well-known Hong Kong filmmakers were attracted to working in mainland China, Hollywood films dominated at the Hong Kong box office. This chapter discusses the idea of local Hong Kong films, making a distinction between what might be considered as two versions of local' films. It considers three recent Hong Kong films that have been identified as having a particularly local feel, Crossing Hennessy by Ivy Ho, Big Blue Lake by Tsang Tsui-Shan, and Flowing Stories by Tsang Tsmi-Shan. The chapter explores works that exist on the periphery where independence allows for a new celebration and exploration of the local history, experiences and concerns of Hong Kong and its people in the twenty-first century.

Citation

Willis, A. (2016). 'Crossing Hennessy', 'Big Blue Lake' and 'Flowing Stories': Re-centring the local in recent Hong Kong Cinema. In F. Chan, & A. Willis (Eds.), Chinese Cinemas : International Perspectives (84-95). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315691893-7

• Online Publication Date: May 20, 2016
• Publication Date: May 31, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2016
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 84-95
• Book Title: Chinese Cinemas : International Perspectives
• ISBN: 9781138912472-(paperback);-9781138912465-(hardback);-9781315691893-(ebook)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315691893-7
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315691893-7
• Related Public URLs: https://www.routledge.com/Chinese-Cinemas-International-Perspectives/Chan-Willis/p/book/9781138912465; https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315691893