A Man Called Hero

A Man Called Hero

Dir/Pho: Andrew Lau
Orig Story: Ma Wing-shing
Scr/Prod: Manfred Wong
Prod Cos: Golden Harvest, Centro Digital Pictures, BoB & Partners
Cast: Ekin Cheng, Shu Qi, Kristy Yang, Nicholas Tse, Jerry Lamb
1999 | Colour | DCP | Cantonese | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 116min

Chinese Hero is the comic series that has made Ma Wing-shing a household name. It first ran in Golden Pao Daily, then developed into its own comic book. As the story developed, it also traced the evolution of Ma's own maturity in terms of drawing technique and thought process. It also defined Ma's personal style: detailed drawings, film-like shot sequences and detailed character descriptions that turned readers' impressions of Hong Kong comics completely on their head. The protagonist was written to have been born under the curse of the Star of Loneliness, creating a multi-dimensional tragic hero, and beginning the theme of destiny in Ma Wing-shing's works.

With the box-office acclaim of The Stormriders (1998), BoB & Partners Company Limited adapted this Ma Wing-shing classic to film. Centro Digital Pictures continued their role as co-presenters. Manfred Wong wrote the script, once again simplifying the story to emphasise the destiny of the protagonist Hero (Ekin Cheng) and the hardship of the Chinese labourers in America. When Hero and Sword (Nicholas Tse) arrive, Hero's story is retold through reminiscences of his encounters with Sheng (Jerry Lamb), Shadow (Dion Lam) and Monk (Kenneth Low). The film boldly focuses on love: between father and son, husband and wife, and among brothers. Through illustrating Hero's tragic destiny, the creators expressed the film's beliefs of challenging one's destiny and fighting for love. In an ultimate face-off, Hero and Invincible (Francis Ng) fight atop the Statue of Liberty, a battle of love and righteousness versus hatred and cold-bloodedness.

Courtesy of Orange Sky Golden Harvest Entertainment Group


Date Time Venue
2/7/2023 (Sun)  7:00pm Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive

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