Made in Hong Kong

The Mad Phoenix

Dir/Prod/Edi: Clifton Ko Chi-sum
Orig Story/Scr: Raymond To
Prod Co: Golden Harvest
Cast: Tse Kwan-ho, Louisa So, Poon Chan-leung, Elaine Wu, James Wong, Leung Hon-wai
1997 | Colour | DCP | Cantonese | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 110min

The Mad Phoenix is a captivating exploration of genius, madness, and the uncompromising pursuit of artistic integrity. Renowned playwright Raymond To, known for his nostalgic portrayals of human relationships in the past, adapts his critically acclaimed stage play into this award-winning film, telling the tragic story of legendary playwright Kong Yue-kau (Tse Kwan-ho), better known under his pseudonym ‘Thirteenth Son of the Southern Sea’.

Born into privilege as the thirteenth son of a Qing-dynasty imperial officer, Kong’s prodigious talent as a writer brought him early fame in the world of Cantonese opera after being discovered by the famous performer Sit Kok-sin (Leung Hon-wai). However, his brilliance was matched only by his eccentricity and unwavering commitment to his principles. During the Sino-Japanese War, Kong wrote patriotic plays to uplift his countrymen’s spirits, but in the post-war era, his more serious works found no audience. Shunned by the theatre community, he was admitted to a mental hospital several times before dying in despair.

Portrayed with extraordinary depth by Tse Kwan-ho, whose performance earned him Best Actor at the 34th Golden Horse Awards, Kong’s descent into madness and homelessness is both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. Raymond To not only pays homage to a brilliant yet troubled artist from a bygone era, but also invites us to reflect on the struggles that all true artists may face.

Courtesy of Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment Group

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