Length: 128 mins
Abou t the Film
The turmoil that has overtaken Hong Kong since it s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 has spawned a new generation of you ng\, passionately committed activist filmmakers\; they want to tell Hong Ko ng’s story with Hong Kong voices. And the best indie documentary to have em erged so far from the HKSAR is this year’s Yellowing\, by Chan Tze Woon\, a 29-year-old with degrees in policy studies and film production.
Hong Kong’s fraught\, tense relationship with its mainland Chinese overseers ca me to a head with the Umbrella Movement of 2014. A crowd of protesters stor med Civic Square on September 27. The next day police shocked most resident s of the HKSAR by attacking the growing crowds with volleys of tear gas\, w hereupon a wide cross section of Hong Kongers occupied the streets in sever al areas and stayed for almost 6 weeks.
Chan took his camera on the s treets for 67 days during these events. He shot 1000 hours of footage\, out of which he crafted a sensational and moving document featuring revealing portraits of students who camped out on the streets and organized a tempora ry\, alternative\, cooperative and communitarian Hong Kong. Richly detailed \, engrossing and dramatic\, this film captures the sights\, sounds\, and f eelings of a time when tens of thousands of Hong Kong citizens\, led by ene rgized and idealistic youth\, defied their government and demanded real dem ocracy.
(Shelly Kraicer\, VIFF)
About the Director
Chan Tze Woon is an independent film director whose work include s “The Aqueous Truth” (2013) and “Being Rain: Representation and Will” (201 4). “Yellowing” (2016)\, which made its overseas debut at the just-conclude d Vancouver International Film Festival\, has been nominated for “Best Docu mentary” for the Golden Horse Awards.
Open & free to the publ ic. Registration required.
Sponsored by: Centre for Chin ese Research\, Department of Asian Studies\, Department of History\, Depart ment of Theatre and Film\, St. John’s College\, School of Social Work\, Van couver Hong Kong Forum Society\, PCHC – Museum of Migration Society\, VAHMS \, explorASIAN\, VAFF
