TSUI Hark has been showing his face in public more often in the past two weeks than in the past six months put together. The respected director has not exactly been known for his eagerness to be interviewed, but he has been unusually talkative on television and, in newspapers and magazines.
So, you just know that Tsui has a new film out. Not just any film, but one close to his heart. Or, perhaps, one with stars close to his heart. Of late, the director appears to have taken singers Charlie Young Choi-nei and Nicky Wu Chi-lung under his expansive wings.
Tsui's latest film Love In The Time Of Twilight marks the second time that Young and Wu have worked with him, the first being The Lovers, a costume drama tear-jerker about a pair of doomed lovers set in the year 377 AD. It was a runaway hit . . . and established the teen heart-throbs as Hong Kong's hottest screen couple, saving them from a career of mediocre singing success.
It would not be the first time that Tsui has turned someone's career round. It was his Swordsman II that saved Taiwanese beauty Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia's (aka Mrs Michael 'Esprit' Ying) hiccuping career and made her a star. And, it was Tsui who plucked kung fu star Jet Li Lienchieh from nondescript mainland Shaolin flicks and gave him a new identity as the legendary Wong Fei-hung in the Once Upon A Time In China movies. Li later went on to direct his own versions.
Tsui manages an embarrassed laugh when the subject of 'turning careers around' comes up. 'Actually, I am not the kind of person who can bring out or nurture new talent,' he said, self-consciously. 'I don't claim to have made anyone a star.' The Vietnam-born film-maker, however, admits that he 'quite likes' Young and Wu: 'I like individual artists. I don't set out to change them into someone else or mould them into so-and-so.' He is adamant that he will not turn Young and Wu into the Hong Kong version of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. 'I think Ginger and Fred can be quite boring because all they can do is dance,' he said. 'Artists should look for the chance to try different things.' Hence, Love In The Time Of Twilight a period 'sci-fi' comedy set in early post-Cultural Revolution days. Young and Wu play nemeses who are brought together when Wu dies and his spirit comes back to ask Young for help. The duo have to travel back in time to 'undo' certain events to keep Wu alive. Although many might be tempted to point out similarities between this and The Lovers Tsui is quick to point out otherwise.
'The new film is more farcical and the characters are quite different,' he said. 'In The Lovers, they were both obedient youths who were filial to their parents, generous and 'nice'.' Love In The Time Of Twilight, however, brings out the darker side of human nature: petty jealousies, spite and anger.