
ReviewLook Up movie review: bland and patronising stories of grown-up children chasing their dreams hardly make for a celebration of 25 years of Chinese rule in Hong Kong
- Released as a celebration of Hong Kong since the handover, Look Up, an omnibus film directed by four upcoming filmmakers, offers a forgettable mix of stories
- Their four short films lack period detail, social awareness or historical reflection, and instead push traditional values and the wisdom of elders
2/5 stars
An omnibus feature co-presented by four of Hong Kong’s most prominent film companies – Sil-Metropole, Emperor, Media Asia and One Cool – to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty, Look Up could have been just the sentimental opportunity for audiences to recall the joys and sorrows of some of the city’s most eventful years.
Tim Poon Tsz-yin’s Up and Up, set during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003, is about a flighty adult son (Hubert Wu Hung-kwan) with ambitions to be an entrepreneur who has long hated his strict father (Eddie Cheung Siu-fai) for asking for monthly family stipends.
He only realises his father’s good intentions after the latter is struck down by a serious illness – and yes, this moral tale really is as condescending as it sounds.

Elvis Hau Cho-fung’s The Garden of Dreams, set in 2012, reminds viewers of the values of traditional Chinese culture as a bridge between generations. It tells a thoroughly predictable story about an aspiring pop music artist (Alex Lam Tak-shun) who rejects his father’s plans for his career and finds his artistic breakthrough when he chances upon a generous Cantonese opera star (Michelle Yim).
The last segment, Lion Under the Piles by Sunny Yip Ching-hang, follows a young Nepali man (Bipin Karma) as he pursues his dream of becoming a professional lion dancer despite being discriminated against at every turn.

Almost completely devoid of period detail, social awareness or historical reflection, Look Up offers a forgettable mix of stories that demonstrate – as an opening voice-over explains – the “glory and warmth of humanity”.
Judging by this movie, nothing of note at all has happened in Hong Kong in the past 25 years.
