CRIME: HONG KONG STYLE A timeline To help you navigate your way round our explosive new season of crime films from Hong Kong presented by HOME, Manchester, here’s a timeline of the key decades.
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Economic revival in Hong Kong Hong Kong is identified as an 1982: Britain and China begin 1992: Hong Kong stock market crashes. Hong Kong society has to readjust 2014: Tens of thousands of continues but social discontent ‘Asian Tiger’ economy with talks on the future of Hong Kong. Film industry not immune to financial to being part of the PRC. protesters take part in what and labour disputes become rife thriving high-technology insecurity that would follow. organisers say could be Hong 1989: The Tiananmen Square 2003: Hong Kong hit by the in the poorly paid workforce. industries. Kong’s largest pro-democracy rally massacre leads to calls for 1994: Hong Kong’s legislature widens the pneumonia-like SARS virus. Strict in a decade. Pro-China demonstrations take the introduction of further proposed franchise but falls far short quarantine measures are enforced place toward the end of the democratic safeguards in of universal suffrage. Anxiety regarding to stop the disease spreading. One of the results of the protests decade. Hong Kong as anxiety about handover grows in some sections of Hong Hong Kong is declared free of SARS is a growing engagement with At the start of the decade the future rises. Kong society. in June. Cinema production and notions of a Hong Kong identity. Shaw Brothers studio attendances severely impacted. productions are vastly 1997: Hong Kong is handed to the People’s popular with directors such Republic of China (PRC) creating a Special Closer links to the PRC continue to Studios begin to produce as Chang Cheh introducing Administrative Region that supports the develop. cycles of films that reflect a muscular and imaginative Hong Kong ‘new wave’ brings idea of ‘one country, two systems’. The continued popularity of the box-office successes. These style to various a more cynical and realist latest crime cycle allows Growth of piracy begins to significantly include Cantonese melodramas, popular cycles. approach to filmmaking for satirical works that that is very different to hit the film industry. Wider Asian financial musicals, martial arts films and These films also Younger filmmakers reinvigorate poke fun at the genre’s the studio-set films of crash impacts on Hong Kong’s confidence. crime films. SeeThe Swallow establish actors such the crime genre with new moral codes and conventions. the 1960s and 1970s. Thief (Yue Feng, 1961). as David Chiang tales that reflect the complexity of See Once a Gangster The influence of this and Chan Koon-tai Hong Kong’s changing status and (Felix Chong, 2010). more morally complex as local stars. See continued anxieties. See Infernal approach can be Hong Kong film production levels are high Crime films with a local The Boxer from Affairs (Andrew Lau, 2002); Beast felt in the The Killer and the influence of triad gangs is widely flavour are produced Shantung (Chang Stalker (Dante Lam, 2008). by new, established and older Cheh & Pao Hsueh-li, 1972) Constable (Kuei Chih- discussed as is their cinematic Filmmakers such as Johnnie To filmmakers proving that the genre and The Teahouse (Kuei hung, 1980). representation. See As Tears use the crime genre to reflect on is still open to reworking and Chih-hung, 1974). Hong Kong film industry enjoys Go By (Wong Kar-wai, 1988). the handover and reinvention. See success all over East Asia Later in the decade crazy ‘Big Timer’ cycle of films is its impact upon That Demon and beyond with Jackie Chan comedies made by the kicked off by the box-office Hong Kong and Within (Dante established as a major star. likes of the Hui brothers success of To Be Number One its citizens. See Lam, 2014); Wild See Police (Poon Man-kit, 1991), which become vastly successful Election (Johnnie City (Ringo Lam, Story (Jackie at the Hong Kong box- charts the rise of a gangster To, 2005). 2015). office. SeeThe Pilferers’ Chan, 1985). from humble origins. Continued Progress (John Woo, 1977). As the handover to Hong Kong approaches international some films begin to reflect the anxieties interest in Hong Kong crime films and worries of many living in Hong Kong. is reflected in Martin Scorsese’s See Too Many Ways To Be No.1 remake of Infernal Affairs, (Wai Ka-fai, 1997). Pre-1960s The Departed (2006).
In the 1950s, Hong Kong enjoys There is a growing concern that Filmmakers engage with economic revival and the film Hong Kong crime films are becoming the new moral and social industry develops. obsessed with triad gangs and often issues facing Hong Kong. merely celebrate their criminality In 1958, the Shaw Brothers film See the Overheard series company is established and with rather than criticise it. See Portland (Alan Mak & Felix Chong, See details on the full new studios production increases. Street Blues (Yip Wai-man, 1998). 2009/2011/2014). CRIME: Hong Kong Style programme homemcr.org/hk-crime
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