https://www.scmp.com/rss/324576/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Edmund Lee Edmund Lee To the literary purist, she is the sensual storyteller who penned semi-autobiographical tales of French Indochina, capturing the suffocating heat of forbidden romance. To the art-house cinephile, she is a radical auteur who took a sledgehammer to commercial filmmaking, stripping away plot to leave pure atmosphere behind. So who is the real Marguerite Duras? This May, Hong Kong audiences can answer this question for themselves. Marking 30 years since she died in 1996 at the age of 81, the city is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352313/who-was-marguerite-duras-decoding-dual-identity-french-cinemas-radical-auteur?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3352313/who-was-marguerite-duras-decoding-dual-identity-french-cinemas-radical-auteur?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis To the uninitiated, the sight of a blood-soaked swordsman fighting on with an arrow lodged in his chest seems absurd. Yet, in the world of Hong Kong cinema, realism is rarely the point. Martial arts films, whether “kung fu” fisticuffs or “wuxia” sword-fighting, operate on a unique logic of physical poetry and historical myth. Below, to help find your footing, we punch out some commonly held misconceptions about this widely cherished tradition. Why the unrealistic fights and injuries? Martial... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3342311/beginners-guide-watching-hong-kong-martial-arts-movies-and-why-realism-doesnt-matter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3342311/beginners-guide-watching-hong-kong-martial-arts-movies-and-why-realism-doesnt-matter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung As a teenager, Miko Calo often found herself lugging lighting equipment beside her cousins during her summer holidays, trailing behind her aunt as they canvassed the far corners of the Philippine archipelago with a television crew in tow. Titled Travel Time, Susan “Tita” Calo-Medina’s travel show was a pioneer when it began airing in the late 1980s, showcasing the richness of Filipino culture and cuisine during an era when it was much more fashionable to look to the West for holiday... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3338096/michelin-guide-arrives-philippines-could-it-be-filipino-cuisines-time-shine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3338096/michelin-guide-arrives-philippines-could-it-be-filipino-cuisines-time-shine?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:15:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg In London, there is a new bar called Bunga 90 themed on nostalgia, with an entrance through a mock-up Blockbuster-esque video store and bands like The Cranberries blasting over the loudspeakers. This summer, the Oasis reunion tour sold out stadiums around the world. Former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful is curating a ’90s exhibition at the Tate Britain art museum to open next year. And on runways and at retailers, ’90s trends are omnipresent, such as checked skirts that look straight out... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329743/why-everyone-still-obsessed-90s-it-was-more-hopeful-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329743/why-everyone-still-obsessed-90s-it-was-more-hopeful-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak According to ancient Chinese legend, the Hungry Ghost Festival – which falls on September 6 this year – is when the gate to the underworld opens, allowing ghosts of the deceased to pass through to the realm of the living. But not all ancestors have good intentions, and it is not just human souls that take their once-a-year opportunity to visit the earthly dimension. In Chinese mythology, there are many supernatural beings that inhabit other spiritual spheres. They are usually called yao guai in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3324134/chinese-mythology-how-demons-spirits-ghosts-and-monsters-are-separated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3324134/chinese-mythology-how-demons-spirits-ghosts-and-monsters-are-separated?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:15:08 +0000 Erika Na Erika Na Girl group Huntrix, the main characters of Netflix’s animated film KPop Demon Hunters, are not your typical K-pop act. On the surface, they are wildly popular Korean idols who charm their fans with catchy tunes and electrifying dance choreography. Beneath the glitz and glam, however, are three strong warriors who use their song, dance and magical weapons to slay demons and to reinforce the honmoon – a barrier between the human world and the demon one. The inspiration for the heroines comes from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3321931/how-kpop-demon-hunters-took-inspiration-koreas-female-shamans-who-scare-away-spirits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3321931/how-kpop-demon-hunters-took-inspiration-koreas-female-shamans-who-scare-away-spirits?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:15:09 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak In Confucian philosophy, li, or “propriety”, is an ethical principle that emphasises politeness and manners as a means to cultivate social harmony and moral virtue. The importance of good behaviour also extends to the dinner table, as the ancient Chinese considered the communal act of breaking bread as an expression of social bonding. Although eating customs have evolved over time and through cultural shifts, some aspects of Chinese dining etiquette have remained the same. For many Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3319792/chinese-dining-etiquette-dos-and-donts-who-eats-first-chopstick-manners-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3319792/chinese-dining-etiquette-dos-and-donts-who-eats-first-chopstick-manners-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 04:40:55 +0000 If the Philippines is a tapestry of cultural threads – indigenous, Malay, Spanish, American and Chinese – then Manila is the best place to see how they knit together. Since its founding in 1571 by the Spanish, the Philippine capital has seen countless wars, two people-power revolutions and, more lately, the rise of a national “Asian tiger cub” economy, encapsulated in the glitzy business districts of Bonifacio Global City and Makati. It’s a dizzying prospect for the visitor, so we’ve spoken to... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3302309/insiders-guide-manila-philippine-capital-and-cultural-melting-pot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3302309/insiders-guide-manila-philippine-capital-and-cultural-melting-pot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:10 +0000 Nicholas Bosoni Nicholas Bosoni The Hmong New Year, or Noj Peb Caug in the Hmong language, is a vibrant celebration marking the end of the agricultural season and the start of a new year, traditionally aligned with the new moon in late December. The Hmong are a diverse ethnic group spread across the mountains of northern Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and into southern China, where they lived for centuries between the Yangtze and Mekong rivers, before being displaced by political and social upheaval. They have maintained a distinct... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3297544/what-hmong-new-year-and-how-it-celebrated-modern-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3297544/what-hmong-new-year-and-how-it-celebrated-modern-day?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:15:14 +0000 Attack on Titan is one of the most successful manga series of all time, selling more than 140 million copies since publication began in 2009. Hajime Isayama’s epic blend of fantasy, horror, military adventure and coming-of-age drama ran for more than 11 years before concluding in April 2021. As is the case with so many successful manga series, Attack on Titan has been adapted for many other formats, including live-action films, computer games, a stage musical and, most notably, a hugely popular... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3294674/primer-attack-titan-last-attack-you-watch-japanese-anime-movie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3294674/primer-attack-titan-last-attack-you-watch-japanese-anime-movie?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2025 11:22:08 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang One of China’s oldest ethnic minorities, the Yiche People, were the country’s earliest wearers of mini-shorts. Dubbed the “sexiest minority,” they also maintain open relationships after marriage and even have a holiday during which men are permitted to freely touch women’s breasts. The Yiche group, one of the oldest branches of the Hani ethnic minority with fewer than 20,000 people, resides in Yunnan province, southwestern China. Their unique and open-minded culture has captured the interest of... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3291555/china-yiche-ethnic-minority-known-open-relationships-earliest-wearers-mini-shorts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3291555/china-yiche-ethnic-minority-known-open-relationships-earliest-wearers-mini-shorts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2024 01:00:09 +0000 Some of the most distinctive and unforgettable sights of Thailand are the dollhouse-sized buildings, frequently draped in garlands, that stand on pillars in the gardens of homes or in the grounds of public buildings. Their form varies from simple, stilted representations of Thai houses to elaborate temple buildings, reflecting the status of the owner. They are common, but spirit houses are a little understood aspect of Thai culture. Thais believe that physical ownership of land is not enough to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3273205/what-are-thailands-colourful-spirit-houses-and-how-are-they-set-bangkoks-famous-erawan-shrine-humble?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3273205/what-are-thailands-colourful-spirit-houses-and-how-are-they-set-bangkoks-famous-erawan-shrine-humble?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:15:08 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A performer with a fierce makeup conceals the tusks of several wild boars in their mouth, flipping them up and down with their tongue and teeth. Throughout this process, they need to sing, read and dance. It could well be the most terrifying, and most difficult, folk art in China. It is called shua ya, which literally means “teeth playing”. What is it? Shua ya is a stunt used in traditional Chinese opera designed to portray the dark, dangerous and complex psychology of villainous characters. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262896/teeth-playing-chinas-most-terrifying-folk-art-which-artists-sing-wild-boar-tusks-mouths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3262896/teeth-playing-chinas-most-terrifying-folk-art-which-artists-sing-wild-boar-tusks-mouths?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Jun 2024 12:00:10 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang Traditional Chinese beliefs say that when a person dies their being continues in the afterlife. This realm is thought to mirror the living world, where money, housing and even marriage exist. While material wealth can be sent to the deceased through the burning of paper money, paper houses and other items, the arranging of a marriage for the deceased is a much more intricate process. In China, the practice is known as a “ghost marriage”. The Post takes a closer look at this eerie... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267421/china-ghost-marriages-discover-dark-secrets-love-afterlife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3267421/china-ghost-marriages-discover-dark-secrets-love-afterlife?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jun 2024 06:00:13 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan Japanese culture has a particularly powerful international reach, exemplified by the seemingly permanent longevity of ninjas, who have captured the imagination of people across generations for centuries. Ninjas are so famous that people worldwide undergo intense training to learn the techniques of “ninjutsu”, the martial arts that blend combat fighting with features traditionally associated with ninjas, such as espionage. The Post dives into who these people are and what attracts them to... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3265285/why-foreigners-are-flocking-japan-learn-how-become-ninjas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3265285/why-foreigners-are-flocking-japan-learn-how-become-ninjas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:00:09 +0000 Alongside The Exorcist, The Omen is one of cinema’s longest-running and most successful horror franchises. The satanic-themed story about the birth of the Antichrist has been spun into four films, a remake, a TV series and now a prequel. This week sees the release of The First Omen – set in Rome before events of the original 1976 film. Directed by Arkasha Stevenson, it is the first addition to the franchise since A&E’s 2016 television show Damien – and proves that this Hollywood supernatural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3257644/omen-prequel-first-omen-opens-how-tale-about-son-satan-spawned-sequels-remake-tv-series-and-books?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3257644/omen-prequel-first-omen-opens-how-tale-about-son-satan-spawned-sequels-remake-tv-series-and-books?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:15:20 +0000 Traditional etiquette is a concept that might seem outdated or trivial to many. Formal introductions such as “how do you do” are rarely used any more; signing off an email with “yours sincerely” comes across as too serious in this age of technology; while setting up a dinner seating arrangement based on titles and rankings is a skill that applies to few. Dining etiquette, on the other hand, still feels relevant – after all, eating is integral to the social fabric of our lives. But dining customs... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3254254/whats-dining-etiquette-asian-cuisines-chinese-japanese-korean-expert-will-tell-you-chopsticks-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3254254/whats-dining-etiquette-asian-cuisines-chinese-japanese-korean-expert-will-tell-you-chopsticks-who?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2024 04:45:12 +0000 The 1970s are usually defined by the phenomenal success of Bruce Lee at the start of the decade, and the Hong Kong New Wave at the end. But a lot happened in between. Here we take a look at the “other” 1970s. Fun at the box office Bruce Lee achieved the biggest box-office success in Hong Kong in the 1970s, right? Actually, he did not – that honour went to comedian Michael Hui Koon-man, the decade’s box-office champ. According to a 1978 chart of all-time local box-office hits, Hui’s The Private... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3245996/what-happened-hong-kong-cinema-during-1970s-beyond-bruce-lee-and-new-wave-movement-michael-hui?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3245996/what-happened-hong-kong-cinema-during-1970s-beyond-bruce-lee-and-new-wave-movement-michael-hui?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Dec 2023 10:15:19 +0000 Satoshi Kon directed just four feature films before his untimely death in 2010 at the age of 46, yet he is widely regarded as one of the most influential animators of his generation. Kon studied under established masters of the form such as Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) before venturing out on his own. He developed a unique and intoxicating visual style that would inform all of his work, as well as an enduring fascination with blurring the lines between fantasy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3242295/who-was-satoshi-kon-japanese-animation-director-perfect-blue-and-paprika-who-influenced-filmmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3242295/who-was-satoshi-kon-japanese-animation-director-perfect-blue-and-paprika-who-influenced-filmmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:15:16 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran One of the mainstays of the Korean drama landscape is the high-school drama. Teen romance series, with love triangles aplenty, generally lead the way, but over the years the genre has become more complex, welcoming several exciting variations, particularly now that we’ve entered the streaming era. Below is our ranking of the 15 best high-school K-dramas. 15. Love Alarm Lead cast: Kim So-hyun, Song Kang, Jung Ga-ram Based on the hugely popular webtoon of the same name, Love Alarm was one of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3241178/15-best-school-k-dramas-all-time-dream-high-and-boys-over-flowers-weak-hero-class-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3241178/15-best-school-k-dramas-all-time-dream-high-and-boys-over-flowers-weak-hero-class-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Nov 2023 09:15:10 +0000 Hard work and a never-give-up attitude have always been considered virtues in Hong Kong, and they are exemplified by the cute little pig in the 2001 animated film My Life as McDull. McDull, who lives with his mother in a run down, working-class district of Hong Kong, is a little slow, and his achievements always fall short of his dreams. But the pig, who originally appeared in a popular comic strip in Ming Pao Weekly, a Chinese-language Hong Kong magazine, never stops trying to make a better... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3239422/how-hong-kong-embraced-movies-about-cartoon-pig-mcdull-celebrated-city-and-never-say-die-spirit-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3239422/how-hong-kong-embraced-movies-about-cartoon-pig-mcdull-celebrated-city-and-never-say-die-spirit-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Oct 2023 20:15:18 +0000 Ultra-prolific film director and producer Wong Jing ruled the Hong Kong box office in the 1990s. But what made Wong, who is still active, so special? What’s Wong Jing known for? Wong, who worked as a director, producer and screenwriter, generally made crude, audience-pleasing movies which mixed lashings of soft porn, gory violence, and lowbrow adolescent comedy. His films had no artistic pretensions, and were solely geared towards doing well at the box office. Wong was the undisputed Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3238578/wong-jing-helped-movie-stars-stephen-chow-and-jet-li-reach-next-level-and-ruled-1990s-hong-kong-box?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3238578/wong-jing-helped-movie-stars-stephen-chow-and-jet-li-reach-next-level-and-ruled-1990s-hong-kong-box?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Oct 2023 20:15:08 +0000 Joe Ma Wai-ho began his career as a scriptwriter but made his name in 1996 as the director of Feel 100%, an above-par youth film that successfully tapped into the mood of the times in Hong Kong. It was a big hit and went on to become one of the most popular youth dramas of the 1990s. Playing like a lighter, more youthful version of a drama by Peter Chan Ho-sun – another Hong Kong director and one of Ma’s unofficial mentors – the adaptation of Jeffrey Lau Wan-kit’s bestselling Hong Kong comic... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3237805/how-woody-allen-fan-joe-ma-channelled-john-hughes-and-peter-chan-feel-100-1990s-hong-kong-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3237805/how-woody-allen-fan-joe-ma-channelled-john-hughes-and-peter-chan-feel-100-1990s-hong-kong-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2023 20:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong director Wilson Yip Wai-shun is best known for directing the Ip Man films, but he didn’t come from a martial arts background, and hadn’t even directed much action before he began work on the blockbusting kung fu series starring Donnie Yen Ji-dan. Yip was originally described by the Post as Hong Kong’s “utility director” for his skill at making films in a range of genres. He started by making idiosyncratic, small-scale comedies, ghost stories and other dramas that featured offbeat... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3237062/how-ip-man-director-wilson-yip-made-his-name-offbeat-hong-kong-movies-bio-zombie-bullets-over-summer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3237062/how-ip-man-director-wilson-yip-made-his-name-offbeat-hong-kong-movies-bio-zombie-bullets-over-summer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Oct 2023 09:15:12 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran These days Korean dramas come in many shapes and sizes, but the genre they continue to be most associated with is romance. And for good reason, as fans of our ranking of the 15 best Korean romantic dramas will tell you. 15. Crash Course in Romance Lead cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho Peak Nielsen rating: 17 per cent When we think of romantic K-dramas we typically imagine young protagonists, but the genre’s broad viewership means there’s a broad range of romances. A case in point is the hit... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3236214/15-best-romantic-k-dramas-all-time-crash-landing-you-and-my-love-star-secret-garden-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3236214/15-best-romantic-k-dramas-all-time-crash-landing-you-and-my-love-star-secret-garden-and-twenty-five?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 11:15:19 +0000 The 1990s were a golden age for Hong Kong cinema, but the quality of commercial films dropped after 1997. This had nothing to do with the return to China, and was a result of problems within the film industry. Put simply, it was in trouble, and Hong Kong filmmakers and producers were scrabbling to find formulas to save it. The result was a reinvention of Hong Kong action films that was heavy on computer-generated effects, featured a new crop of young stars, and unspooled at a dizzying pace, even... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233812/how-gen-x-cops-led-hong-kongs-new-style-90s-action-films-featured-young-actors-more-special-effects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233812/how-gen-x-cops-led-hong-kongs-new-style-90s-action-films-featured-young-actors-more-special-effects?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Sep 2023 20:15:12 +0000 Filmmaker Stanley Kwan Kam-pang was often referred to as a “women’s director” during the 1980s, a description he happily accepted. Movies such as 1985’s Women centred on female characters, exploring their personal relationships and sexuality. Kwan, who is gay, has said that his own sexuality influenced his choice of subject matter, and he has also noted that the fact he was very close to his mother – his father died when Kwan was 13 – may have influenced the kind of films he made. Women... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233077/women-red-rose-white-rose-actresses-stanley-kwans-early-films-had-starring-roles-where-they-were?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233077/women-red-rose-white-rose-actresses-stanley-kwans-early-films-had-starring-roles-where-they-were?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2023 20:15:15 +0000 At the 80th Venice International Film Festival which opened on August 30, celebrated Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has been honoured with a special Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement. During his long and prolific career, Leung has starred in close to 100 feature films, collaborating numerous times with Hong Kong art-house auteur Wong Kar-wai. Remarkably, the actor has already appeared in three films that won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice festival – Hou Hsiao-hsien’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232670/ranked-10-best-movies-tony-leung-chiu-wai-venice-film-festival-2023-lifetime-achievement-awardee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232670/ranked-10-best-movies-tony-leung-chiu-wai-venice-film-festival-2023-lifetime-achievement-awardee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:15:21 +0000 Francis Ng Chun-yu and Anthony Wong Chau-sang are established veterans of Hong Kong cinema. But back in the mid-1990s when they both came to prominence, Wong and Ng were a breath of fresh air. The “hero” era of Hong Kong cinema, personified by alpha males like Chow Yun-fat, had run out of steam, and audiences were drawn to the pair’s eccentric qualities; they were not all-powerful supermen, but local “characters” with foibles, troubles and imperfections. “As the mainstream male image suffered... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232266/hong-kong-film-veterans-francis-ng-and-anthony-wong-and-their-careers-1990s-comedy-crime-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232266/hong-kong-film-veterans-francis-ng-and-anthony-wong-and-their-careers-1990s-comedy-crime-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Aug 2023 20:15:10 +0000 “For every commercial film that I do, I have to do something without considering what the market wants,” said prolific Hong Kong director and producer Johnnie To Kei-fung in an interview with the Post in 2003. “I get a lot of satisfaction from that.” Best known internationally for a run of highly individual crime films including The Longest Nite in the 1990s, To has also been lauded in Hong Kong as a producer or director of commercial hits such as All About Ah Long and A Moment of Romance since... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3231377/how-hong-kong-action-movie-director-johnnie-tos-lifeline-and-mission-show-his-2-contrasting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3231377/how-hong-kong-action-movie-director-johnnie-tos-lifeline-and-mission-show-his-2-contrasting?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Aug 2023 20:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong New Wave film directors Patrick Tam Ka-ming and Ann Hui On-wah both began their careers making programmes at Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, and Hui looked to the more experienced Tam as a mentor. But they made very different types of films. Tam followed an interest in expanding the style of Hong Kong movies, while Hui made more straightforward films which highlighted social issues. Two of their early films, Tam’s Nomad and Hui’s The Story of Woo Viet, show the range of the New Wave, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3230793/how-hong-kong-new-wave-cinema-classics-nomad-and-story-woo-viet-early-movies-patrick-tam-and-ann-hui?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3230793/how-hong-kong-new-wave-cinema-classics-nomad-and-story-woo-viet-early-movies-patrick-tam-and-ann-hui?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Aug 2023 20:15:09 +0000 In the Line of Duty 3 and In the Line of Duty 4 were intended as sequels to the hit films Yes, Madam! (1985) and Royal Warriors (1986). But as action stars Michelle Yeoh (then known as Michelle Khan) and Cynthia Rothrock were unavailable, the sequels featured the Hong Kong debut of Taiwan-born Cynthia Khan (real name Yeung Lai-ching, also spelled Yang Li-tsing). Khan, whose name is an amalgam of the names of the previous stars of the series, seamlessly filled Yeoh’s shoes. The two later films,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3229952/no-michelle-yeoh-no-problem-how-cynthia-khan-made-line-duty-3-and-4-her-own-her-sensational?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3229952/no-michelle-yeoh-no-problem-how-cynthia-khan-made-line-duty-3-and-4-her-own-her-sensational?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Aug 2023 20:15:10 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran Korean dramas seduce us with their beautiful stars, captivating storylines and topical themes, but what seals the deal and makes them endure the test of time are the memorable songs in their multi-hued soundtracks. From K-pop ballads and indie rock ditties to classical scores, these original soundtracks (OSTs) are just as varied as the shows they feature in. For your listening pleasure, we have gone back through the audio vaults to rank our 15 favourite K-drama soundtracks. 15. Moon Lovers:... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3229875/15-best-k-drama-osts-all-time-you-should-add-your-playlist-squid-game-and-itaewon-class-descendants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3229875/15-best-k-drama-osts-all-time-you-should-add-your-playlist-squid-game-and-itaewon-class-descendants?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Aug 2023 20:15:07 +0000 Top Hong Kong action film director Ringo Lam Ling-tung first went to Hollywood in the early 1990s, around the same time as John Woo Yu-sum. But he became bored by the slow pace of moviemaking there, and especially disliked the many rounds of meetings required to get a picture into production. American producers had become aware of his critically acclaimed 1987 action drama City on Fire because of its similarities to Quentin Tarantino’s hit Reservoir Dogs (1992), and wanted to meet with him. But... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3229244/who-can-forget-sauna-fight-why-jean-claude-van-damme-movie-maximum-risk-its-directors-hollywood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3229244/who-can-forget-sauna-fight-why-jean-claude-van-damme-movie-maximum-risk-its-directors-hollywood?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jul 2023 20:15:13 +0000 Maggie Cheung Man-yuk often said that Hong Kong films didn’t give her the chance to fully explore her acting abilities. Two films she made with her one-time husband, French director Olivier Assayas, demonstrate what she meant. Irma Vep (1996) Irma Vep, the first film Cheung made with Assayas, is a fascinating art-house piece about a director trying to remake an episode of Les Vampires (The Vampires), a famed French silent film series about a feline thief who haunts the rooftops of Paris. In the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3228438/how-hong-kong-film-star-maggie-cheung-was-able-explore-her-acting-abilities-two-films-directed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3228438/how-hong-kong-film-star-maggie-cheung-was-able-explore-her-acting-abilities-two-films-directed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Jul 2023 20:15:08 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran K-dramas have taken the world by storm in recent years, streaming internationally through sites including Netflix and Disney+, and attracting huge audiences. Read on to see our ranking of the 10 greatest actresses to have appeared in Korean drama series. 10. IU The youngest name on the list, the singer and actress also known as Lee Ji-eun has quickly cemented herself as a captivating screen presence. After conquering the world of K-pop, IU set her sights on the small screen, appearing in dramas... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3226618/10-most-famous-k-drama-actresses-all-time-ranked-iu-and-song-hye-kyo-son-ye-jin-and-kim-hye-ja?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3226618/10-most-famous-k-drama-actresses-all-time-ranked-iu-and-song-hye-kyo-son-ye-jin-and-kim-hye-ja?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jul 2023 20:15:15 +0000 The 1960s, 70s and 90s are all considered golden ages for Hong Kong cinema – but what about the 80s? It was an era when home-grown Cantonese-language films outperformed Hollywood films at the local box office, “heroic bloodshed” became a genre, and Chow Yun-fat became a superstar. Below we revisit what happened in this less discussed but equally rich era of Hong Kong filmmaking. Cinema started to reflect modern Hong Kong life The 80s was when Hong Kong cinema became truly local and started to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3226090/chow-yun-fat-leslie-cheung-and-anita-mui-gangster-films-and-adults-only-movies-1980s-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3226090/chow-yun-fat-leslie-cheung-and-anita-mui-gangster-films-and-adults-only-movies-1980s-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Jul 2023 20:15:20 +0000 The Hong Kong New Wave of the late 1970s and early 1980s is spoken about with reverence today. We look at the directors and the films that changed the course of filmmaking in the city. What exactly was the Hong Kong New Wave? In a nutshell, it was a group of young filmmakers with new ideas and modern techniques who brought Hong Kong films up to international standards in terms of production values and stories. “In the mid-1970s, the ranks of film and television were joined by a number of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3225186/hong-kong-new-wave-cinema-key-movies-and-directors-tsui-hark-ann-hui-and-how-they-changed-filmmaking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3225186/hong-kong-new-wave-cinema-key-movies-and-directors-tsui-hark-ann-hui-and-how-they-changed-filmmaking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jun 2023 20:15:13 +0000 Innovative, energetic, and incredibly hard-working, Tsui Hark was a powerhouse behind the Hong Kong cinema boom of the early 1990s. As producer, director and screenwriter, he helped John Woo Yu-sum, Jet Li Lianjie and Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia become superstars, and set the standard for Hong Kong filmmakers. We answer some frequently asked questions about the legendary director behind such classics as Peking Opera Blues and Once Upon a Time in China. Was Tsui born in Hong Kong? No, Tsui was born... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3223480/tsui-hark-faqs-hong-kong-movie-director-producer-and-screenwriters-career-highs-and-lows-and-how-he?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3223480/tsui-hark-faqs-hong-kong-movie-director-producer-and-screenwriters-career-highs-and-lows-and-how-he?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jun 2023 02:15:21 +0000 Pierce Conran Pierce Conran The K-drama industry features a number of dazzling lights – but only a handful of stars have continued to burn bright over the years. Read on for our pick of the 10 greatest male K-drama actors. 10. Ji Chang-wook A former musical theatre performer, Ji Chang-wook became a screen actor in his early 20s, and first rose to prominence in the weekday comedy drama Smile Again in 2010. Building on that success, he broke through to stardom in the period drama Empress Ki and soon became a huge star in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3222547/10-most-famous-k-drama-actors-all-time-including-squid-games-lee-byung-hun-train-busans-gong-yoo-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-drama/article/3222547/10-most-famous-k-drama-actors-all-time-including-squid-games-lee-byung-hun-train-busans-gong-yoo-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jun 2023 11:15:11 +0000 After a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the return of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival seems fitting since, according to folklore, the event first came about to celebrate the end of a plague in centuries past. Much like previous versions, the highlight of this year’s festival will be a so-called bun-scrambling competition set to run late Friday night into the early hours of Saturday morning. But this comeback has not been smooth sailing, with hiccups centred on the iconic bun towers.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3221493/not-all-bun-and-games-look-history-and-controversies-behind-hong-kongs-cheung-chau-bun-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3221493/not-all-bun-and-games-look-history-and-controversies-behind-hong-kongs-cheung-chau-bun-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 May 2023 11:30:19 +0000 Dozens of bawling Japanese babies faced off on Saturday in a traditional “crying sumo” ritual believed to bring the infants good health, which returned for the first time in four years after the pandemic. Pairs of toddlers wearing ceremonial sumo aprons were held up by their parents and faced each other in the sumo ring at Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. Staff wearing “oni” demon masks tried to make the babies cry, with the first to bawl declared the winner by a sumo referee in an elaborate traditional... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3217984/japans-crying-baby-sumo-festival-returns-after-coronavirus-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3217984/japans-crying-baby-sumo-festival-returns-after-coronavirus-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Apr 2023 08:55:09 +0000 The 1990s were confusing for Hong Kong filmmakers. On the one hand, the decade signified the end of the dominance of local films at the box office – after 1993, Hollywood films took a greater market share. On the other hand, these years saw an outpouring of imaginative and groundbreaking Hong Kong films which covered a variety of topics in many different styles. Indeed, the 1990s are now considered the last golden age of Hong Kong cinema. The decade is also interesting for the absence of many... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3216179/jet-lis-rise-wong-kar-wais-art-house-fame-hong-kong-cinemas-last-golden-age-1990s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3216179/jet-lis-rise-wong-kar-wais-art-house-fame-hong-kong-cinemas-last-golden-age-1990s?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:15:10 +0000 Takashi Yamazaki’s fantastical adventure Yokaipedia, which opens in Hong Kong cinemas this week, tells the story of three middle-schoolers from a small Japanese town who must do battle with a host of mythological creatures, known as yokai, to save their ailing classmate. In the film, these otherworldly creatures take on a variety of different forms and wield unique powers, challenging the young protagonists to overcome them through a combination of intelligence and strength, with help from the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3215798/what-japanese-yokai-movie-yokaipedia-my-neighbour-totoro-all-you-need-know-about-mythological?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3215798/what-japanese-yokai-movie-yokaipedia-my-neighbour-totoro-all-you-need-know-about-mythological?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Apr 2023 20:15:09 +0000 The art scene in Greater Bay Area cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou can’t yet rival the pull of the many galleries, museums, international fairs and auctions to be found in Hong Kong. But for anyone keen to feel the excitement of a vibrant developing market and see a creative modern take on some of China’s time-honoured traditions, there is plenty to entice and explore. Aside from the pandemic’s disruptions, things have been progressing at a sometimes dizzying speed. Economics is one reason,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3213485/will-shenzhen-and-guangzhous-art-scenes-overtake-hong-kong-ocat-and-art-canton-are-putting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3213485/will-shenzhen-and-guangzhous-art-scenes-overtake-hong-kong-ocat-and-art-canton-are-putting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:21 +0000 Hong Kong’s creative community has never been without a fighting spirit, and in recent years, it has needed one – pandemic-related restrictions kept creatives apart, making collaborations all the more difficult. “Collaboration is key when it comes to what we do,” reiterates Maria Wong, managing director of street art festival HKwalls. “It’s important to identify the right partners to spark ideas with.” Wong is a curator and arts producer who has brought the city’s streets to life. Each... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3213109/inside-soho-house-hong-kong-artsy-members-club-hosting-street-art-festival-hkwalls-2023-again-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3213109/inside-soho-house-hong-kong-artsy-members-club-hosting-street-art-festival-hkwalls-2023-again-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:00:13 +0000 Hong Kong’s renowned bun festival on Cheung Chau, which welcomes thousands of attendees annually, will return in May after a three-year hiatus. In a step forward for the city’s return to normality since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government on Friday said the finale of the Bun Carnival would be held at the scenic outlying island on the night of May 26. Recruitment of candidates for its iconic bun scrambling spectacle, which sees fearless men and women climb decorated towers, will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3211501/what-hong-kongs-bun-festival-cheung-chau-all-about-pirates-and-plague-climbers-and-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3211501/what-hong-kongs-bun-festival-cheung-chau-all-about-pirates-and-plague-climbers-and-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Feb 2023 02:00:20 +0000 Hong Kong’s martial arts films have a long and distinguished history. We look at some classic films that contributed to the development of the kung fu cinema tradition. Rooted in local culture Since 1949, around 100 films have been made that depict the life of Cantonese martial arts legend Wong Fei-hung – they make up the world’s longest-running film series. The films show Wong as an honourable individual steeped in Confucian values, and would only resort to violence when discussion, humility... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3204086/one-armed-swordsman-big-boss-bruce-lee-and-drunken-master-jackie-chan-films-built-hong-kong-martial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3204086/one-armed-swordsman-big-boss-bruce-lee-and-drunken-master-jackie-chan-films-built-hong-kong-martial?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Dec 2022 10:15:10 +0000 The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will be back for its 27th edition on October 5, returning to full strength after a couple of hybrid events held during the earlier stages of the coronavirus pandemic. With a broad programme featuring 243 films from 71 countries, the festival will once again put on a full roster of physical screenings and host a large complement of international guests. Also returning will be a variety of events and programmes which had been paused for the Covid-19... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3193927/busan-international-film-festival-history-scandals-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3193927/busan-international-film-festival-history-scandals-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:15:12 +0000 The Hungry Ghost Festival, or Yu Lan Festival, falls on August 12 this year in Hong Kong, and will no doubt bring many residents and shopkeepers to the streets to burn incense and joss paper offerings for the spirits. Occurring in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the festival marks a period during which certain things are to be avoided in order to not attract unwanted attention from ghosts. These include: opening new businesses, moving house, swimming at night, and getting married –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3188296/how-hong-kong-gets-hungry-ghost-festival-all-wrong-following?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3188296/how-hong-kong-gets-hungry-ghost-festival-all-wrong-following?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:15:20 +0000