Film critics Ivy Lam and James Marsh are on a mission to bring alternative cinema to Hong Kong's moviegoers. Two months ago, they screened Troll 2 - unanimously dubbed the worst film ever made - at the Wan Chai Arts Centre. This time they're back with a jewel of innovative and little-seen cinema.
A screening of Klown, with a selection from the best Shorts of 2012 festival, including Grant Orchard's Oscar-nominated A Morning Stroll, takes place at the Hong Kong Film Archive on July 14.
'The cinema landscape in Hong Kong is mostly Hollywood blockbusters or art house films, so we want to broaden that spectrum,' said organiser Lam.
Although departing from the 'worst film' genre this time round, Lam said their 'alternative screening' debut has been a satisfying experience.
'I really enjoyed audiences' responses [to Troll 2]. When I asked people to come, they said 'why would I want to see a bad film' but when they came, they got it. They knew what to laugh at. Of course, you'd probably need a good sense of cinema and irony to find it funny,' she said.
Klown, adapted from a popular Danish sitcom and directed by Mikkel N?rgaard, follows the outrageously funny exploits of serial womaniser Casper (Casper Christensen) and his buddy Frank (Frank Hvam) on an ill-conceived canoeing weekend with Frank's 12-year-old nephew. The film bagged a series of trophies at last year's Danish Zulu Awards as well as Fantastic Fest in the US.