Book Launch of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s cum Screening

Book Launch of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s cum Screening

Introduction

With the acquisition of a cache of precious film prints and other relevant materials of 1930s and 1940s' Hong Kong movies in recent years by the Hong Kong Film Archive, a symposium entitled ‘From Silent to Sound—Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s' was held as part of a series of programmes celebrating the Archive's 20th anniversary last year. The Archive also published the e-book Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s which is a collection of the essays presented by scholars and researchers during the symposium. It is divided into ‘Part 1: Era and Film History' and ‘Part 2: Genres · Regions · Culture'. Both Chinese and English editions are now available.

In order to share our fruitful results of this publication, the Archive organises this book launch, inviting writers of this book to talk about their insights. The Light of Women (1937) directed by Ko Lei-hen will be screened before the book launch. This film is the earliest Hong Kong fiction film in the Archive's collections. It depicts the hardship faced by the female protagonist who eventually joins the education industry, showing how women become self-reliant while facing myriad constraints in life. This was one of the issues explored in Hong Kong films at that time.

Date: 5 November 2022 (Sat)
Time: 1pm
Venue: Cinema, Hong Kong Film Archive
Moderator: Ms Winnie Fu
Speakers: Dr Timmy Chih-Ting Chen, Prof Ching May-bo, Dr Chiu Kit-fung, Mr Lau Yam, Dr Lo Wai-luk, Dr Kenny Ng, Prof Stephen Sze Man-hung, etc.
In Cantonese. Free admission by tickets.

 

【Free Download】Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s

Part 1: Era and Film History
 
Part 2: Genres · Regions · Culture
 
Cover of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s Part 1: Era and Film History (Chinese edition) Cover of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s Part 2: Genres · Regions · Culture (Chinese edition)
Chinese edition
Introduction

Download (PDF format, about 13.8MB)

 
Chinese edition
Introduction

Download (PDF format, about 12.6MB)

 
Cover of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s Part 1: Era and Film History (English edition) Cover of Exploring Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s Part 2: Genres · Regions · Culture (English edition)
English edition
Introduction

Download (PDF format, about 12MB)
English edition
Introduction

Download (PDF format, about 10.4MB)


Click here to watch the videos of the ‘From Silent to Sound—Hong Kong Films of the 1930s and 1940s' symposium.

 

Film Screening

The Light of Women (1937)

The Light of Women

Director: Ko Lei-hen
Screenwriter: Ying Ming-ha
Executive Producer: Runde Shaw
Production Company: Nanyang
Cast: Lee Yi-nin, Kwong Shan-siu, Leong Tim-tim, Wong Cho-shan, To Sam Ku
1937 | B&W | DCP | Cantonese | Without Subtitles | 84min
 
Luk Mo-jing (played by Lee Yi-nin) is forced by her brother to marry a rich factory owner. She escapes to another town and meets a man (played by Kwong Shan-siu) she loves. Hoping that free love brings happiness, Mo-jing later discovers to her disappointment that her lover is weak and incapable to be the one she wants to spend the rest of her life with. So she leaves him and single-handedly raises adopted daughter Sau-wah (played by Leong Tim-tim) while establishing a vocational school for girls from disadvantaged families.  
 
The quality of the picture and sound tracks of this film have deteriorated due to age. We appreciate your understanding.
 
Special thanks to Mr Jack Lee Fong of Palace Theatre, San Francisco, USA
 

Ticketing Information

Admission is free with tickets which will be distributed at the box office of the Archive from 22 October 2022 (Sat) onwards, from 10am to 8pm every day except Tuesday. Each person can receive up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

Free tickets have all been distributed.

Limited walk-in seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the public are welcome to queue up at the 1/F Foyer of the Archive 45 minutes before the programme begins. Each person can register for one ticket while stocks last.

 
Special Notes
The programme will be cancelled when tropical cyclone warning signal No. 8 or above, or the Black Rainstorm Warning is issued or remains in effect 3 hours before the screening starts. Ticket holders are advised to visit www.lcsd.gov.hk for details of programme schedule changes.
The programme may be changed or cancelled due to special circumstances. Please consult our website for updated information. Special arrangement for in-cinema seating plan will be implemented in order to protect audiences' health, we appreciate your understanding.
The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.
 
Opening Hours and Location of the Hong Kong Film Archive