https://www.scmp.com/rss/325870/feed Wong Kar-wai is an internationally renowned Hong Kong film director. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Carolyn Yim Carolyn Yim Hong Kong is navigating a period of significant economic transition. The city is seeing a surge in family offices. It is an offshore renminbi hub and has one of the world’s most meaningful capital markets. However, it needs systemic change to attract and retain top talent, bring the Hong Kong diaspora back home and lure high-spending tourists. While our capital infrastructure is strong, our cultural infrastructure demands urgent attention. As outlined in China’s 15th five-year plan, the central... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava In preparation for her first trip to Hong Kong, artist Nicole Eisenman has been watching a lot of 1990s Wong Kar-wai films. One in particular, Fallen Angels (1995), fully captivated the artist. “It’s the night time … the whole movie feels so dark,” says Eisenman of the neo-noir crime drama. “I know it sounds ridiculous, trying to learn about a city by watching a movie, but my idea of Hong Kong is very tied up with Wong Kar-wai right now. Everything seems to take place at night, and this darkness... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348600/how-wong-kar-wais-noir-films-inspire-nicole-eisenmans-hong-kong-view?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348600/how-wong-kar-wais-noir-films-inspire-nicole-eisenmans-hong-kong-view?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:15:10 +0000 Payal Uttam Payal Uttam As art fever sweeps Hong Kong this weekend with Art Basel, we celebrate three rising female painters from around the world who are redefining figurative art with their signature works. Brooklyn-based Korean artist Eunnam Hong creates meticulous paintings of a mysterious, slender woman with a mop of voluminous curls who appears to be frozen in time. At times, this lanky figure lies asleep or hunched over a table alone. In other cases, multiple replicas of the woman crowd the canvas. Hong is the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3348104/painter-eunnam-hong-explores-identity-through-haunting-self-portraits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3348104/painter-eunnam-hong-explores-identity-through-haunting-self-portraits?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak This is the 73rd instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. In the golden age of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry, Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing was a star so bright that he rewrote the rules of conservative Asian society. Affectionately nicknamed Gor Gor – Cantonese for “older brother” – the Cantopop legend’s talent spanned disciplines and extended far beyond the city’s borders. Even now, decades after his death in 2003, fans from around the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348009/how-leslie-cheung-broke-all-rules-become-hong-kongs-greatest-modern-superstar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348009/how-leslie-cheung-broke-all-rules-become-hong-kongs-greatest-modern-superstar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung After the dust settles following the March madness of Art Basel, Art Central and the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is due to celebrate its semi-centennial this April – a milestone that serves as a retrospective of the city’s storied cinematic output. Despite arriving at a difficult time for the local film industry, amid a slew of cinema closures, the 50th edition, which runs from April 1 to 12, strikes a hopeful note with a strong showing of the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347107/see-chen-kaige-and-juliette-binoche-hong-kong-international-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347107/see-chen-kaige-and-juliette-binoche-hong-kong-international-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Hong Kong-based photographer, artist and director Wing Shya is best known for his collaborations with famed director Wong Kar-wai on iconic films such as In the Mood for Love. He is also a regular contributor to fashion and art magazines like i-D, Vogue Italia and Numèro. How do you define style? It’s a look, just like the sky is blue. What is the most memorable fashion event you’ve been to? An exhibition curated by William Chang called “The Love of Couture”. His vision was all about... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3346439/their-words-photographer-wing-shya-recalls-20-years-style-highs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3346439/their-words-photographer-wing-shya-recalls-20-years-style-highs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Francesca Specter Francesca Specter When Hong Kong-based designer Yu-chang Chen was asked to breathe new life into a 30-year-old, 1,200 sq ft apartment in Shanghai, the challenge was personal. The unit had belonged to his late aunt and, for 30 years, had been the site of many family gatherings. His cousin, Lu Yi, who inherited the flat, asked Chen to design the space in tribute to his mother, Chen’s aunt, in the style popular when she was born. Chen, who was otherwise given creative freedom, says that his main task was to do “old... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3339545/wong-kar-wai-film-set-no-its-old-shanghai-style-family-home-jing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3339545/wong-kar-wai-film-set-no-its-old-shanghai-style-family-home-jing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott For first-time visitors to Hong Kong, a tram ride to The Peak or a walk up to Lantau Island’s Tian Tan Buddha are usually on their to-do list. But Garance Marillier is not your average visitor. The French actress, who was in the city last week for the ongoing 54th Hong Kong French Film Festival (HKFFF), had a different itinerary. Amid her hectic HKFFF schedule, the 27-year-old squeezed in a visit to Chungking Mansions, a sprawling complex in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood known for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3334030/why-french-film-star-garance-marillier-just-had-visit-hong-kongs-chungking-mansions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3334030/why-french-film-star-garance-marillier-just-had-visit-hong-kongs-chungking-mansions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:15:09 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong romances are often melodramatic, and in the 1990s, increasingly geared towards teenagers. However, some filmmakers were still experimenting with the genre. We look at three outliers: a surreal science fiction romance, a love story that morphs into a fantasy and a film about a presumed incestuous relationship. Saviour of the Soul (1991) This postmodern sci-fi romance, loosely based on the popular Japanese manga City Hunter, is a thoroughbred romance at its core. Set in a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332751/when-hong-kong-romance-movies-got-weird-saviour-soul-anna-magdalena-and-isabella?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332751/when-hong-kong-romance-movies-got-weird-saviour-soul-anna-magdalena-and-isabella?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 08:15:09 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam This is the 62nd instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. On October 8, news broke that the Cantopop star Shirley Kwan Suk-yee had been hospitalised in intensive care in Hong Kong following emergency cardiac surgery, and her adult son reportedly flew back from America to be by her side. The sudden health crisis has stirred immense concern, placing the fiercely private singer at the centre of public attention. It is the latest chapter in a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329926/how-shirley-kwan-cantopops-complex-queen-cool-star-no-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3329926/how-shirley-kwan-cantopops-complex-queen-cool-star-no-other?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on September 29, 2000 By Fionnuala Halligan In the mood for nostalgia With his latest movie In the Mood for Love, Shanghai-born Wong Kar-wai takes a trip back to his own childhood – and a Hong Kong which, he believes, has long vanished. He moved here with his parents when he was five and his recollections of the two-faced nature of adults – their ability to deceive each other and keep up pretences – inspired his latest film. “I would always see my uncle and aunts... https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/3326955/wong-kar-wais-mood-love-opens-hong-kong-2000-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/3326955/wong-kar-wais-mood-love-opens-hong-kong-2000-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:15:07 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling always brings a strong sense of presence to her work, whether she is appearing in drama or comedy, as a leading actress or a supporting player. Here we chat with film historian Frank Djeng about her long-lasting career. Carina Lau has been acting since the 1980s – that is a long time for a Hong Kong actress to keep working. Yes, she started her career back in the mid-1980s at TVB, and she has kept going strong, although she has had quite a lot of career... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3325122/how-hong-kong-actress-carina-lau-became-top-film-star-and-her-best-movies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3325122/how-hong-kong-actress-carina-lau-became-top-film-star-and-her-best-movies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 04:15:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan China’s Xin Zhilei, the winner of the best actress award at the recent Venice Film Festival, has come a long way from her humble beginnings as a restaurant waitress. Since Xin won the prestigious prize on September 6, her life story has trended on mainland social media, with internet users celebrating her hard work and grit through the years. Xin, 39, was born in Heigang, an underdeveloped city in northeastern Heilongjiang province, both her parents were manual workers. She has a younger brother... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3325005/xin-zhilei-venice-film-festival-best-actress-poverty-discovery-donnie-yen-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3325005/xin-zhilei-venice-film-festival-best-actress-poverty-discovery-donnie-yen-team?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:14 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram When Xin Zhilei stood up to accept her best actress award at this year’s Venice Film Festival, winning for Cai Shangjun’s The Sun Rises on Us All, she was in a daze. “I feel like I am dreaming,” she said. The first Chinese actress to win the prestigious prize since Deanie Ip Tak-han took it for Ann Hui On-wah’s A Simple Life in 2011, and only the third ever to do so – the other being Gong Li for 1992’s The Story of Qiu Ju – it marks a significant step in an already notable career. Two days... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324689/how-chinese-star-xin-zhilei-best-actress-winner-venice-film-festival-rose-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324689/how-chinese-star-xin-zhilei-best-actress-winner-venice-film-festival-rose-top?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 04:02:42 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China’s Xin Zhilei has won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese woman to receive the honour in 14 years. The 39-year-old brought the Golden Lion trophy home on Saturday for her role in The Sun Rises on Us All, directed by Cai Shangjun. The film sees Xin play the harassed owner of a fashion retail business who is trying to reconcile with her former lover, who served time in prison for a crime she had committed. “I feel like I am dreaming,” Xin said in her... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324656/chinas-xin-zhilei-creates-history-best-actress-award-venice-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3324656/chinas-xin-zhilei-creates-history-best-actress-award-venice-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 10:08:53 +0000 Kate Whitehead Kate Whitehead The wellness ritual you can’t live without? My work as an auctioneer can be high-pressure, and when I need to relax, I do weight training. I find it an almost meditative practice and do it three times a week, either at Pure Fitness or at the clubhouse at home. The most conversation-sparking feature in your home? Guests often comment on the design of our home, which my talented wife, Grace, can take credit for. We live in Tseung Kwan O and have a great sea view. She made the most of the ocean... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3322003/what-inspires-auctioneer-and-modern-art-expert-when-hes-clock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3322003/what-inspires-auctioneer-and-modern-art-expert-when-hes-clock?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:00:10 +0000 Matt Glasby Matt Glasby This is the latest instalment in a feature series reflecting on instances of East meets West in world cinema, including China-US co-productions. Anthology films consist of several shorter works, often connected by a common theme or wraparound story. Sometimes they have multiple directors, such as 1989’s New York Stories, which features tales by Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Woody Allen. Named after the Greek god of love and desire, Eros (2004) explores different ideas of eroticism.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3320906/how-wong-kar-wais-short-hand-made-2004-anthology-film-eros-worth-watching?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3320906/how-wong-kar-wais-short-hand-made-2004-anthology-film-eros-worth-watching?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Free literature-themed guided tours of Hong Kong’s Wan Chai have opened for registration, offering 90 spots in August for participants to explore the district’s historic buildings and hidden gems through the eyes of local writers. Co-hosted by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the Museum of Hong Kong Literature and the Salvation Army in Hong Kong, the two-hour tour sessions are free of charge and led by Wan Chai residents. The URA said on Tuesday that there would be six tours, each... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320022/discover-hong-kongs-wan-chai-free-literature-theme-tour-opens-registration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320022/discover-hong-kongs-wan-chai-free-literature-theme-tour-opens-registration?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:16:10 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Based in London, designer Chet Lo has built a loyal following thanks to his spiky knitwear, which has become a signature of his five-year-old label. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, New York-born Lo has dressed celebrities from Chanel ambassador Dua Lipa and Doja Cat, to Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and collaborated with brands such as Converse and Charles & Keith. Here, he shares some of his favourite finds from London and beyond. What I’m watching I’ve been laying off Instagram! I’m trying... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3319253/style-according-chet-lo-london-based-designer-who-has-dressed-everyone-dua-lipa-and-doja-cat-kendall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3319253/style-according-chet-lo-london-based-designer-who-has-dressed-everyone-dua-lipa-and-doja-cat-kendall?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:00:18 +0000 Richard James Havis Richard James Havis Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau Tak-wah’s matinee idol looks were a good fit for romances and dramas early in his career, although his frequent roles playing “sensitive” triad gangsters were complemented by action scenes. In the early 2000s, Lau tried his hand at bona fide action and proved exceptionally good at it in spite of his slight figure. We recall the actor-singer’s portrayal of three very different action heroes on screen. 1. Shaolin (2011) Lau’s stature in the Chinese film industry was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3310423/3-andy-lau-action-roles-show-his-talent-beyond-dramas-cop-monk-and-hit-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3310423/3-andy-lau-action-roles-show-his-talent-beyond-dramas-cop-monk-and-hit-man?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 03:15:07 +0000 This spring, In the Mood for Love is once again flickering on cinema screens in Hong Kong. More than two decades on, Wong Kar-wai’s film has lost none of its glow. A meditation on time, restraint and unspoken desire, it quietly signals that Hong Kong once moved to a different rhythm. It is tempting to read this re-release as political, especially in a city where cultural memory has become a muted form of dissent. In truth, the film captures not the colonial past but the emotional present. What... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3307750/global-hong-kong-mustnt-lose-sight-its-own-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3307750/global-hong-kong-mustnt-lose-sight-its-own-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Apr 2025 01:30:08 +0000 From Oscar-winning art directors and Hollywood stunt choreographers to veteran producers and actors, explore the journeys of these talented individuals who have shaped the industry. Discover their insights, collaborations with icons like Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat, and Bruce Lee, and their perspectives on the future of Hong Kong film. 1. Oscar-Winning art director Tim Yip on Michelle Yeoh’s broken leg, Chow Yun-fat’s martial arts moves in A Better Tomorrow and his movie career Yip reflects on his... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3300234/hong-kong-cinema-legends-and-greats-open-about-their-careers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3300234/hong-kong-cinema-legends-and-greats-open-about-their-careers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Apr 2025 23:00:09 +0000 One of the most celebrated cinematic love stories of all time, Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love returns to Hong Kong cinemas this week in recognition of the film’s 25th anniversary. Presented in a brand new 4K restoration, this extended edition of the 2000 masterpiece boasts nine minutes of never-before-seen footage. It was previously screened in mainland China earlier this year to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Widely regarded as a jewel in the crown of Hong Kong cinema, and Wong’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3306007/whats-extended-new-mood-love-cinema-special-edition-4k?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3306007/whats-extended-new-mood-love-cinema-special-edition-4k?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:45:08 +0000 How to be Happy Together? Curated by Zairong Xiang, “How to be Happy Together?” draws inspiration from Wong Kar-wai’s 1997 queer classic, Happy Together. Featuring more than 20 artists, including Ren Hang and Nadim Abbas, the show explores themes of intimacy, conflict and coexistence between individuals, cultures and ideas. Central to the show is the concept of the orifice as a portal for revelation and concealment, creating pathways for a “queer cosmos of happy-togetherness”. With its... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302355/its-showtime-4-must-see-art-exhibitions-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302355/its-showtime-4-must-see-art-exhibitions-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Mar 2025 08:15:12 +0000 This is the 44th instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. Faye Wong reigned supreme as Hong Kong’s diva of the 1990s. Her distinctive voice, artistic integrity, aversion to celebrity and unique style cemented her status.. While many will recognise her from her cover of The Cranberries’ track “Dreams” or her vocals on “Eyes on Me” (the theme song for the video game Final Fantasy VIII), her breakthrough came with her fourth studio album,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3298584/faye-wongs-career-cantopop-singer-and-actress-and-her-very-public-romances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3298584/faye-wongs-career-cantopop-singer-and-actress-and-her-very-public-romances?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:15:08 +0000 It’s officially awards season – and almost Lunar New Year – which means we’re about to be treated to a slew of exquisite fashion moments as celebrities walk the red carpet in designer looks. In years past, qipao-inspired dresses have had their moment in the limelight as a series of actresses, singers and media personalities have donned outfits drawing on the traditional Chinese dress for major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Met Gala, New York. The qipao, also... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3296613/how-qipao-has-inspired-red-carpet-looks-over-years-designers-carolina-herrera-tom-ford-have-dressed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3296613/how-qipao-has-inspired-red-carpet-looks-over-years-designers-carolina-herrera-tom-ford-have-dressed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak At Hong Kong independent art space Para Site, a group exhibition called “How to Be Happy Together” pays homage to filmmaker Wong Kar-wai’s 1997 movie Happy Together, in which two men from the city who are in a turbulent romance travel to Argentina, just about the furthest place from their hometown. The film, which stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and the late Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, is only referred to in the abstract by the more than 20 artists involved in the exhibition. The show is not a mere... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3291713/hong-kong-art-show-thats-homage-wong-kar-wai-ponders-meaning-home-expat-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3291713/hong-kong-art-show-thats-homage-wong-kar-wai-ponders-meaning-home-expat-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Dec 2024 03:15:07 +0000 Merry Christmas! Get into the festive spirit – or spend the time to reflect – with our curated list of things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. More Good x Yardbird’s Golden Goose Holiday Dinner It’s the season of giving, so this weekend why not put your money where your mouth is by supporting Hong Kong charity More Good? You can snap up tickets (HK$1,088 per person) for its Golden Goose Holiday Dinner on December 22. Hosted in More Good’s expansive Chai Wan events space and kitchen, the feast... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3291700/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-december-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3291700/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-december-20-22?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Dec 2024 08:16:53 +0000 “If memories could be canned, would they also have expiry dates? If so, I hope they last for centuries,” Takeshi Kaneshiro’s character He Zhiwu says in Chungking Express. Three decades after its 1994 release, Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express continues to impress and inspire. Considered one of the greatest films not only in Hong Kong cinema but all cinema, Chungking Express follows two lovesick policemen – Zhiwu and “Cop 663”, played by Tony Leung Chiu-wai – adrift in a concrete jungle. Both... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3288469/30-years-3-elements-helped-make-chungking-express-hong-kong-cinema-classic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3288469/30-years-3-elements-helped-make-chungking-express-hong-kong-cinema-classic?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Nov 2024 23:15:10 +0000 Nothing beats the experience of weathering yet another major typhoon in Hong Kong than by waltzing out into freedom to a sample a new drinks menu, guest shift or whisky event. Take a look at some of the choicest libatious happenings in our city – drinking experiences so good the bottles might run dry if you hear about them any later. Plan ahead and make the most of Hong Kong’s world class bar scene. Friday, November 15 Dead Poets x Winstons Coffee What: Two local neighbourhood favourites are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286738/your-hong-kong-weekend-drinks-guide-november-15-24?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3286738/your-hong-kong-weekend-drinks-guide-november-15-24?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:45:08 +0000 One of the most renowned names in Hong Kong cinema, Maggie Cheung dominated the screen during the 1990s and early 2000s, drawing acclaim for her tremendous range that saw her excel in both comedic and dramatic roles. She’s perhaps best remembered for her work with actor Tony Leung, and with Wong Kar-wai, who directed the actress in her most memorable and celebrated roles. Instead of leveraging her fame on social media or taking on more roles, Cheung has opted to stay under the radar over the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3278872/maggie-cheung-turns-60-beauty-queen-hong-kong-film-icon-and-global-stardom-djing-aaron-kwok-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3278872/maggie-cheung-turns-60-beauty-queen-hong-kong-film-icon-and-global-stardom-djing-aaron-kwok-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Sep 2024 02:00:19 +0000 Hollywood has long had an inescapable glamour and these two books capture some of the glittering appeal of its greatest cinematic achievements as well as its biggest personalities – the big-name directors as well as the A-list stars in front of the cameras. Life. Hollywood by Taschen If you’re a lover of the golden age of Hollywood, you should add this new release from luxury publisher Taschen to your bookshelf. Life. Hollywood is a two-volume coffee table book featuring photos from Life... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3276846/2-new-coffee-table-books-every-film-buff-should-love-celebrate-golden-era-hollywood-or-study-set?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3276846/2-new-coffee-table-books-every-film-buff-should-love-celebrate-golden-era-hollywood-or-study-set?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Sep 2024 02:00:09 +0000 Wong Kar-wai’s first television series, Blossoms Shanghai, is his love letter to the city of his birth. The period romance drama, adapted from the novel Blossoms by Jin Yucheng, is set against Shanghai’s dramatic economic rise during the 1990s and centres on Ah Bao, a young stock trader whose own meteoric rise in the business world mirrors that of the city around him. Gripping cinematography typical of Hong Kong-based Wong – who turned 66 on July 17 – is evident throughout, with Shanghai... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3270604/5-locations-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-are-now-tourist-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3270604/5-locations-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-are-now-tourist-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:15:08 +0000 Director Wong Kar-wai’s films may have gifted the world with the quintessentially cinematic vision of Hong Kong, but the next generation is discovering the best of the city through the lens of a rather different auteur. In late 2022, filmmaker Jazzie Sillona decided to post his first Instagram video featuring everyday Hong Kong moments and sights, ranging from the Star Ferry crossing the busy harbour and rides at Disneyland, to the picturesque hiking trails of the Southside, all shot on his... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/article/3263720/how-old-hong-kong-went-viral-filmmaker-jazzie-sillona-has-clocked-nearly-500000-instagram-followers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/article/3263720/how-old-hong-kong-went-viral-filmmaker-jazzie-sillona-has-clocked-nearly-500000-instagram-followers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 May 2024 03:00:12 +0000 Although it was slightly before her time, Olivia Dawn Mok, better known as Xiaolin, has always been nostalgic for 1980s and early 90s Cantopop. And now the Hong Kong-based techno DJ and producer has initiated a vinyl-only three-part project, titled Moods for Love, to take old Cantonese love songs to a global audience. “Instead of trying to make techno club tracks in a pandemic,” she says of the Covid-era writing process, “I decided to make things I can listen to at home and feel warm and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/arts-music/article/3261575/dj-records-covers-anita-mui-song-other-cantopop-hits-remind-world-hong-kongs-musical-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/arts-music/article/3261575/dj-records-covers-anita-mui-song-other-cantopop-hits-remind-world-hong-kongs-musical-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2024 23:15:15 +0000 Last week, the main selections were announced for the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which will be held in the picturesque city in the South of France between May 14 and 25. Hong Kong filmmakers will be in attendance at one of world cinema’s most prestigious events, but will not be competing for the coveted Palme d’Or. Hot off his best director win at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Soi Cheang Pou-soi will present the international premiere of his period action drama Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3259406/cannes-film-festival-history-hong-kong-cinema-twilight-warriors-walled-and-shes-got-no-name-premiere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3259406/cannes-film-festival-history-hong-kong-cinema-twilight-warriors-walled-and-shes-got-no-name-premiere?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:15:13 +0000 Clothes maketh the man, as the old saying goes, and nowhere is this more true than on the movie screen. An eye-catching costume can prove as crucial to creating a memorable character as casting the right actor or penning a compelling script, and over the years, Asian cinema has delivered a parade of incredible outfits, from lavishly reconstructed historical robes to stylish trendsetting looks. Consider the sumptuous, richly coloured kimonos in Akira Kurosawa’s late-career masterpiece Ran (1985),... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3255389/10-iconic-looks-asian-cinema-bruce-lee-outfit-akiras-biker-bomber-jacket-faye-wongs-chopped-hair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/film-tv/article/3255389/10-iconic-looks-asian-cinema-bruce-lee-outfit-akiras-biker-bomber-jacket-faye-wongs-chopped-hair?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:10:44 +0000 Blossoms Shanghai, Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai’s hit about the heady opportunities and possibilities during the early 1990s in China’s financial hub, has captured the collective nostalgia of an entire nation, in more ways than one. Fans of the wildly popular 30-episode drama have been flocking to the restaurants, bars and clubs featured and visited by the show’s protagonist since its release on December 27. His Huanghe Road neighbourhood, a hub for Shanghai’s Xiao Long Bao (dumplings with a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3249945/wilting-fortunes-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-drama-series-offers-stock-investors-painful-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3249945/wilting-fortunes-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-drama-series-offers-stock-investors-painful-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jan 2024 02:00:16 +0000 The lifting of Covid-related restrictions has not been enough to stimulate Hong Kong’s beleaguered tourist economy, with visitor numbers last year just over half of what they were in 2019. Increasingly, Hongkongers are also going to the mainland for more affordable and even superior dining and shopping experiences, leaving the city’s hotels, shops and restaurants struggling for survival. Meanwhile, Macau appears to have surpassed Hong Kong in terms of having a more effective tourism campaign.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249657/how-boost-hong-kong-tourism-vouchers-now-and-vision-long-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3249657/how-boost-hong-kong-tourism-vouchers-now-and-vision-long-term?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jan 2024 01:30:11 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. The Shanghai dialect used to be heard in many parts of China, as the Shanghainese diaspora spread, but the vernacular has been on the wane – until now. Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai’s first... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3249082/wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-kiss-life-declining-dialect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3249082/wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-kiss-life-declining-dialect?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:30:14 +0000 It’s 11am on a recent morning, and Shanghai’s normally quiet Huanghe Road is nearly overrun by a deluge of diners with a taste for nostalgic culture. Tai Sheng Yuan, the real-life location of a restaurant depicted in a hit Chinese drama featuring Shanghai in the 1990s, has seen its business surge since Blossoms Shanghai, famed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai’s first television series, premiered on December 27. “All of our big tables have been booked through Chinese New Year’s Eve [on February... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3248934/hit-chinese-tv-show-blossoms-shanghai-taps-culture-and-ignites-spending-can-consumption-craze-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3248934/hit-chinese-tv-show-blossoms-shanghai-taps-culture-and-ignites-spending-can-consumption-craze-be?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jan 2024 02:00:22 +0000 Chinese people are rushing to buy calendars from 1996, which are identical to one for 2024 because both are leap years beginning on a Monday – a coincidence that has triggered nostalgia for the 1990s. Prices for the vintage calendars range from five yuan to more than 1,000 yuan (US$140) on Xianyu, China’s leading second-hand trading app. A single date page from a 28-year-old calendar can sell for 60 yuan. Over the past week, searches for 1996 calendars on Xianyu rose 600 per cent and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3248389/why-are-chinese-people-buying-calendars-1996-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3248389/why-are-chinese-people-buying-calendars-1996-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jan 2024 14:00:13 +0000 After much anticipation, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai debuted his first web series Blossoms Shanghai on Tencent’s streaming platform in China on December 27. The long-awaited series marks a full decade since the director released his last film, The Grandmaster. And in typical Wong Kar-wai fashion, it’s garnering polarising opinions and reviews. While some worry that the cinematic drama he’s known for will get lost on the small screen, others wonder if the often glacial tempo of his works will... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/entertainment-news/article/3246950/whos-starring-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-meet-cast-his-debut-tv-show-including-chinese-actors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/entertainment-news/article/3246950/whos-starring-wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-meet-cast-his-debut-tv-show-including-chinese-actors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jan 2024 04:00:54 +0000 Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai’s first television series, Blossoms Shanghai, will begin airing on December 27. The 30-episode period drama – which has been six years in the making – is adapted from a 2012 novel of the same name by Jin Yucheng, which won the 9th Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2015 and is written in Shanghainese. Set in Shanghai in the 1990s, the romantic drama revolves around a young man, Abao (played by Hu Ge), who rises from humble beginnings to become a successful... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3245843/wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-tv-show-what-expect-how-true-it-stays-novel-its-based-and-how-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3245843/wong-kar-wais-blossoms-shanghai-tv-show-what-expect-how-true-it-stays-novel-its-based-and-how-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Dec 2023 23:45:16 +0000 Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who was recently accorded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Venice Film Festival, is undoubtedly one of the most prolific and versatile actors to have emerged from Hong Kong cinema. Leung has come a long way from his humble beginnings playing extras on TVB dramas and hosting children’s programmes, to becoming one of the most recognisable Hong Kong faces globally. He has starred in everything from comedies and romances to art-house dramas and epic war films. Undeniably... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3235683/5-ways-tony-leung-got-character-thanks-his-costumes-hong-kong-legend-donned-slick-suits-wong-kar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3235683/5-ways-tony-leung-got-character-thanks-his-costumes-hong-kong-legend-donned-slick-suits-wong-kar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:19 +0000 Want to make an action film the Hong Kong way? In our unofficial “masterclass”, legendary action and martial arts filmmakers tell you how it is done. John Woo Yu-sum on how to develop a universal story for your film: “In my films, I explore themes and emotions that are common to everyone. Even though we all walk different paths – depending on culture and background – I believe there are some ideas that are universal. “For instance, we all want to believe there is justice, love, morality and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3234632/hong-kong-action-filmmaking-masterclass-directors-including-john-woo-benny-chan-and-wong-kar-wai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3234632/hong-kong-action-filmmaking-masterclass-directors-including-john-woo-benny-chan-and-wong-kar-wai?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2023 20:15:10 +0000 This is the sixth instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades. Carina Lau Ka-ling is a formidable Hong Kong actress whose popularity has stood the test of time. Her name is synonymous with style and a classy demeanour, and she is known for her numerous business ventures. Being one half of one of Hong Kong’s most beloved celebrity couples – her husband is Tony Leung Chiu-wai – Lau is also frequently seen arm in arm with her partner on red... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232809/how-hong-kong-actress-carina-lau-rose-stardom-her-mainland-girl-roots-overcame-topless-photos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3232809/how-hong-kong-actress-carina-lau-rose-stardom-her-mainland-girl-roots-overcame-topless-photos?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Aug 2023 23:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai’s 2046 and My Blueberry Nights aren’t his best films, but they do add something to his oeuvre. We consider two of the director’s less favoured movies. 2046 It’s sometimes said that Wong has spent his whole career making the same film from different perspectives. That’s unfair, but there are intentional connections between the director’s In the Mood for Love and 2046. Released in 2000, In the Mood for Love focuses on a love affair between Chow (Tony Leung Chiu-wai)... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3227635/not-his-best-work-how-wong-kar-wais-2046-and-my-blueberry-nights-left-their-marks-despite-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3227635/not-his-best-work-how-wong-kar-wais-2046-and-my-blueberry-nights-left-their-marks-despite-being?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Jul 2023 20:15:11 +0000 In film, the art department is responsible for the sets, props, costumes and other visual prompts that help bring a screenplay to life. While these artefacts are often thrown away or left to collect dust in some forgotten warehouse, they are sometimes collected by the studios, cast or crew who recognise how such objects embody the stories and spirit of film history. “Out of Thin Air”, a new exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum jointly organised with the Hong Kong Film Arts Association... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3220557/hong-kong-movie-costumes-and-props-wong-kar-wai-films-and-other-famous-productions-celebrated-major?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3220557/hong-kong-movie-costumes-and-props-wong-kar-wai-films-and-other-famous-productions-celebrated-major?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 May 2023 09:15:53 +0000 Want to make films in the Hong Kong style? Read on for an unofficial masterclass in Hong Kong filmmaking, compiled from interviews with some of the city’s best known directors over the years. Wong Kar-wai in 1988, telling City Entertainment how to model one’s film characters on oneself: “I do not make up my stories up in isolation. As a story develops, the personality of the characters cannot be separated from your own preferences. The story can be developed in various ways, but it originates... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3219452/hong-kong-filmmaking-masterclass-wong-kar-wai-whom-story-not-important-wong-jing-whom-director-chef?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3219452/hong-kong-filmmaking-masterclass-wong-kar-wai-whom-story-not-important-wong-jing-whom-director-chef?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 May 2023 20:15:14 +0000