C4 Monday, October 6, 2014 CITY PROFILE Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen LOOKING AT THE CITY FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE Ruby Yang is known “This young generation that’s RUBY YANG just about to come of age were all for her focus on the born after 1997. With social me- human condition. dia, they know more and de- Position Hung Leung Hau Ling mand more. They can go into the Now the filmmaker distinguished fellow in bathroom and use their phone to humanities, HKU, since last year send a message to a friend with- is planning a fresh Award Best documentary (short out their parents knowing. look at her ‘highly film) for The Blood of Yingzhou “Without work experience or District at the 79th Academy any setbacks on their road of life, polarised’ hometown Awards, 2007 they are fresh and idealistic. They Education San Francisco Art dare to think and act, and that Institute in painting and ................................................ could be a little dangerous.” filmmaking Parents featured in Yang’s Oliver Chou Family Married to theatre film at times appear more fragile [email protected] executive and film producer than their children. One broke Lambert Yam down in tears when she saw, on The last time Ruby Yang saw screen, her daughter’s determi- protests like the ones gripping nation, against the odds, to go Hong Kong in the past week was of portraying mainland orphans back to school, Yang said. the 1967 riots. But she was too who had lost their parents to “The nine characters … expe- young then to make a documen- Aids. “Instead of finger-pointing, rience some degree of disparity tary film on them. my theme was the stigma those with their parents,” she said. “As Fast-forward to 2014, and the young children were subjected the ending shows, many prob- filmmaker has again missed the to, and so it put a human face on lems can be resolved through opportunity – because she wasn’t the disease called Aids,” she said. dialogue. They just need to sit around. Last year, Yang returned to down and talk. I guess that’s also “Had I been in Hong Kong for her hometown after being deeply true for Hong Kong at large.” the past three years, I would moved watching rehearsals for a It also struck Yang while film- have,” she said. musical in Hong Kong. One stu- ing the documentary that today’s Yang, born in Hong Kong and dent had recently lost his vision mainland immigrants are a very based in San Francisco since and was using Braille to join in. different crop from those she en- 1977, has focused her energies in The result is My Voice, My Life, her countered in Citizen Hong Kong. the last decade on mainland latest documentary, which she “The new immigrants then were China – the setting for her docu- shot before she settled into her very agreeable about their chil- mentary on Aids that won an new role as a visiting scholar at dren taking part in the film. But Oscar in 2007. the University of Hong Kong. now they are resistant. One even But the master at, in her own wanted to change or remove alto- words, “putting a human face” gether her daughter’s part.” on issues is considering a docu- Beyond the film, Yang says mentary about her birthplace by she has also noticed an apathy to- 2017 – starting with footage of the wards the mainland among the Occupy protests. students in her Academy for Per- “It will be 20 years since I did a forming Arts film-editing class – documentary on the identity of 20 even when watching her docu- people in Hong Kong, during the mentary on the Aids orphans. 1997 handover,” she said, refer- Ruby Yang’s next film “It was not so when I first ring to her film, Citizen Hong will look back at Hong Kong started teaching the course there Kong. “It would be interesting over this many years – in 2007,” she said, adding that the to look back on those two dec- up to 2017 change in attitude could be to do ades and the subtle changes in with media stereotypes of main- between.” landers. “It may be easier for The director still remembers The 91-minute film, which [my mainland interviewees] to the indomitable spirit of the lo- will be screened in local cinemas give a quote to print media,” she cals she interviewed in 1996 and next week, follows a group of said. “But for them to talk in front 1997 for the project. underprivileged high school of a camera, it is so much more “They might have been un- teens who overcome disability or difficult than before.” certain about the future, but they low self-esteem by taking part in Yang said making My Voice, were absolutely confident about a musical over summer last year. My Life – which shows anyone their identity as Hong Kong citi- The film charts their transforma- has the potential for success – zens and proud of it.” tion into self-assured individuals gave her hope for the new But now, all she sees is a taking control of their lives. generation. “highly polarised” city. “Perhaps It presents a challenge to And she said the civic spirit that is why I want to sit out, keep a viewers to define what success behind the mass protests had cool mind, and take a broader means for marginalised youth in only confirmed that belief. perspective before I start my the city. “Did unsatisfactory con- She spoke enthusiastically of a camera rolling,” she said. “After duct or academic grades define recent experience: “I passed by a all, I film documentaries, not me as bad?” Hong Kong movie stall at an Admiralty MTR exit the news, which requires battling on star Andy Lau Tak-wah, who day after police used tear gas on the front line for the latest.” plays no part in the production, the protesters. It was for an Aids The human condition is a asks in the movie trailer. anti-discrimination campaign strong focus for Yang’s work, Yang wanted to show the organised by an NGO. That was a especially aspects few people pay character of young Hongkong- true sign of a civic society and I attention to, or those that can be ers. “The typical traits of Hong was very moved by it.” seen from “a special angle” – Kong youngsters – such as total And in keeping with the which she says inspires her to free rein, inventiveness and quick theme of her latest film, Yang dedicate her time and resources reactions – are what inspired me noted that everyone deserved an to a project. to make this documentary,” she opportunity. It was this dedication to giving said. She also notes that times “Don’t look down on young voice to ordinary people that have most definitely changed people. Give them an opportun- gave her the Oscar-winning angle since she last lived in Hong Kong. ity, and you’ll be surprised.”.