Dreamlike Cityscapes

Lavender

Dir/Scr: Riley Ip Kam-hung
Prod Co: Golden Harvest
Cast: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Kelly Chen, Eason Chan, Cheng Pei-pei, Vincent Kok Tak-chiu
2000 | Colour | 35mm | Cantonese | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 101min

Kelly Chen and Takeshi Kaneshiro reunite on-screen for the third time in Lavender, delivering a natural and heartfelt romance. Chen stars as an aromatherapy tutor who teaches her students how to soothe their emotions, yet she struggles to heal her own wounds after the loss of her boyfriend. One day, a broken-winged angel, played by the dashing Takeshi Kaneshiro, crashes onto her balcony. To survive until the gates of heaven open in Vatican City, he needs love from others. But she, consumed by grief, has forgotten how to love.

Under the lens of cinematographer Kwan Pun-leung, the film transitions from Hong Kong’s iconic uphill escalators to the breathtaking lavender fields of Europe, creating a visually stunning and romantic atmosphere. Director Riley Ip Kam-hung, who always writes his own screenplays, crafts this love story between a human and an angel, linking memory with scent. When released in Hong Kong, some cinemas enhanced the experience by infusing the smell of lavender, generating buzz that made the film unforgettable. The theme song, performed by Kelly Chen and sharing the film’s title, was nominated for Best Original Film Song at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Lavender is a multi-sensory cinematic experience that engages not only the visual and auditory senses but also the olfactory.

Courtesy of Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment Group

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