Center Stage - Hong Kong Film Archive

Center Stage （Director's Version）

Film industries of 1930s Shanghai and 1990s Hong Kong intersects in Center Stage, with the originally-Cantonese Ruan Linyu played by the originally-Shanghainese Maggie Cheung. Director Stanley Kwan subverts the biopic genre, which traces legendary screen diva Ruan's ascent to fame and her fall from grace. Featuring an elegant performance by Cheung, the film breaks down the glossy façade to reveal the complex woman behind the screen. It's also a fascinating trip into the golden era of Shanghai's once-illustrious film industry – often compared to Hong Kong cinema's own golden era – offering a portrait of the times through Ruan's relationship with her friends and colleagues, as well as their dedication and contributions to the arts. In a brilliant twist, Kwan cuts into the film's narrative with black-and-white interview footage of his actors speaking about their characters, real footage of Ruan's works and behind-the-scenes footage from Kwan's set. Kwan also took his team to Shanghai for three months, shooting scenes at original sites and recreating former movies sets at Shanghai Animation Film Studio and Shanghai Film Studio. An enlightening examination of the bond between life and art.

日期日期 Date	時間时间 Time	地點地点 Venue
21/6/2020 (Sun) [Full House]	4:00pm	Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

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