Three Hong Kong Movies from 2024 You Should Check Out
Filmmakers of The Last Dance, Stuntman and Yum Investigation visited Singapore last November to showcase their works at the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation.
When it comes to Asian movies in 2024, most of us would probably be familiar with Netflix’s How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies or Officer Black Belt starring Kim Woo-bin. But you’d be surprised to learn that Hong Kong cinema enjoyed quite a bit of a resurgence as well. Last November, the Hong Kong Film Gala Presentation, organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy in collaboration with the Singapore Film Society, showcased a selection of works by up-and-coming Hong Kong filmmakers across a five-day screening event. We got the opportunity to sit down with three of the directors to discuss their respective projects. Check it out below:
Anselm Chan, The Last Dance
The explosive reception of The Last Dance has been nothing short of amazing. Not only did it break multiple box office records, it has enjoyed widespread acclaim following its release, making this the must-see of the lot. Directed by Anselm Chan (known for his Ready O/R Knot series) and starring Hong Kong comedy legends Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, the film is set in a funeral parlour and explores the complexities of life, death, and human relationships. Here, Chan elucidates further about these powerful themes.
Herbert Leung and Anastasia Tsang, Stuntman
Is there anything more iconic in Hong Kong cinema than dynamic stuntwork? Director Herbert Leung (together with his twin brother Albert Leung) wanted to pay tribute to the art and the golden age of 1980s action filmaking with Stuntman. The reworked script by Anastasia Tsang allowed the film to be greenlit for production, and today we get to see it in all its martial glory. Leung and Tsang talk more about the nostalgia of Hong Kong’s stunt industry in this interview.
Dickson Leung, Yum Investigation
The supernatural comedy Yum Investigation serves as the directorial debut for Dickson Leung, who has long been assisting with recognisable titles like Infernal Affairs (2002) and New Police Story (2004). It’s a fun romp starring Cantopop quartet Error, and Leung is eager to share about the film with us.