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From Tetsuo: The Iron Man to Let’s Love Hong Kong, the 5 favourite films of Joseph Chen, director of culture at Eaton HK

Joseph Chen shares his favourite films that shine a light on marginalised communities – including one that had a big impact on him when he was 16

He reflects on a film that is ‘about the fluctuating and uncertain relationships of a lesbian couple’, as well as another that grapples with technology

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Joseph Chen, the director of culture at Eaton HK, shares his favourite films that shine a light on marginalised communities. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 4:15pm, 29 Feb 2024

With a background in film, contemporary art and queer culture, Joseph Chen King-yuen is a perfect fit for director of culture at Eaton HK.

Located in Jordan, in Kowloon, Eaton HK is a buzzing hub for arts, culture, music, food and wellness, with a focus on social change and activism.

And Chen has played a key role in curating its packed culture calendar, “about 300 events a year”, with many shining a light on marginalised groups, from refugees and migrants to women and the city’s LGBTQ community.

In 2023, Chen opened Pride Month at the Eaton HK with one of his favourite films, 2002’s Let’s Love Hong Kong, by director Yau Ching. “The screening was a full house with young people curious about this cult and queer classic, which shows just how influential it is still.”

Here, Chen shares more about films that have resonated with him.

1. Paris is Burning (1990)

A documentary about black and Latino drag queens in New York and their “house” culture in the late 1980s, Paris is Burning, by American director Jennie Livingston, traces the origins of voguing, a dance style rooted in the queer community that influenced pop culture, most notably Madonna.