Director Stanley Kwan
Renowned Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan stands out among his peers for his sensitive portrayals of women in such movies as “Rouge,” “Centre Stage,” and now “Everlasting Regret,” and for his willingness to tackle gay romance in the award-winning “Lan Yu.” He tells Yvonne Young how he got in touch with his feminine side.
I was born in Sham Shui Po. I have five siblings and I’m the eldest brother. We were quite middle class, but my dad had two jobs to sustain our standard of living. My mum’s role was clearly defined: have babies, raise them, and be tender to her husband.
As the eldest boy, I was expected to set an example to my siblings. My dad was harsh, and I had the strong impression he did not love me. That was our relationship until I was 13, when he died.
The love-hate relationship suddenly transformed into a sense of pity: my longing for my father to love me completely disappeared.
But the fact is the hate towards my father existed, no matter how long it lasted, and deep down I feel it has haunted my adulthood.
I have this tendency to be drawn to someone older and more mature. Maybe it is a substitute for my insecurity as a kid.
My obsession with films about women is linked to my upbringing by my mother. I have always been strongly attached to her. Her persistence in raising us after the loss of her beloved husband made me realize the explosive power in a woman can be stronger than anything.