Septet: The Story of Hong Kong (2020)

Septet: The Story of Hong Kong 2020 / 七人樂隊 2020 / 八部半 , 七人乐队 , Eight & A Half

Seven legendary Hong Kong filmmakers, whose names alone are enough to excite cinephiles, made an omnibus film about Hong Kong. Produced by Johnnie To, this seven-part anthology is a tribute to Hong Kong, ranging from the 1950s to the present day, told in 10-minute episodes by different directors. In Exercise, Sammo Hung recalls the boyhood experience of learning martial arts, while Ann Hui’s Headmaster brings to screen elementary school friends and teachers from the 1960s who share warmth even in poverty. Patrick Tam’s Tender is the Night tells a youthful story of first love and heartbreak. Yuen Wo Ping portrays an intergenerational friendship between an old Kung Fu master and his granddaughter in Homecoming. Johnnie To’s Bonanza depicts youth absorbed in stock investments during the turbulent era of the late 1990s and early 2000s as characterized by the Asian Financial Crisis, the dot-com bubble, and the SARS epidemic. Ringo Lam’s Astray reminisces on the death of a father who stubbornly loved the old Hong Kong, while Hark Tsui humorously expresses his affection for contemporary films and filmmakers against the backdrop of the near future ruled by incommunicability in Conversation in Depth. (Source: BIFF) ~~ Release dates: Oct 21, 2020 (Festival) || Jul 29, 2021 (Cinema)