This group of shorts from seven of Hong Kong’s best filmmakers is an elegiac tribute to that city’s past—and a subversive commentary on its present. The themes vary between films, but there is significant overlap among them: they include regret over love that went unfulfilled, the personal ruptures that came with the ‘97 handover, and the ways in which Hong Kong has changed since that fateful year.
Septet begins with a reminiscence of martial arts school and ends with a hilarious political allegory. In between, there are commentaries on history and loss—some caustic, some mournful, some bittersweet. From kung fu to the cultural politics of cuisine, the filmmakers mine their city’s complicated ethos—sometimes to shine a light on current conditions, other times to simply honour cultural memory.
[C]onveys a nostalgic ache for a settled land far removed from the current political turmoil… a film that remains appealing through all its changing moods and tones.”—Allan Hunter, Screen Daily
Presented by
Media Partner
Timmy Hung, Francis Ng, Jennifer Yu, Yuen Wah, Ng Wing Sze, Simon Yam, Cheung Tat Ming
Hong Kong/China
2020
In Cantonese with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Giant
This was the Yellowstone of its time: a big, sweeping modern Western built around an imposing ranch and family dynamics -- except Giant is much more subversive. James Dean strikes it rich as Jett Rink, much to the disgust of his former boss, Rock Hudson.
Familiar Touch
A loving portrait of an octogenarian transitioning into an assisted living facility, this award-winning first feature by choreographer Sarah Friedland has a simplicity and warmth that's exceptionally poignant.
Super Happy Forever
This beguiling film depicts a man’s return to the Japanese seaside town where he met his now-deceased wife five years earlier. He tries to relive the past, and in the film's final section -- a flashback to 2018 -- the audience is afforded that privilege.
A Streetcar Named Desire
"I don't want realism. I want magic!" declares Blanche du Bois, the tragic heroine who meets her nemesis in her sister's husband, Stanley Kowalski, in Tennessee Williams' great play. Brando's performance as Stanley is a turning point in American acting.
Georgia O'Keeffe: the Brightness of Light
Drawing on her copious correspondence and the world's leading scholars, this is a definitive documentary on the life and work of "the mother of American Modernism."
Credits
Executive Producer
Peter Lam, Richard Lui
Producer
Johnnie To, Elaine Chu
Screenwriter
Sammo Hung, Au Kin Yee, Lou Shiu Wa, Melvin Luk, Patrick Tam, Yuen Wo Ping, Johnnie To, Yau Nai Hoi, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark, Roy Szeto
Directors
Ann Hui
The renowned director, producer, and screenwriter Ann Hui is best known for The Golden Era (2014) and Our Time Will Come (2017). Hui was a rising young director in the Hong Kong New Wave Cinema movement during the 70s and 80s, with a knack for portraying the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Hui is one of the few influential female directors in Chinese-language cinema. In 2020, Hui won the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at Venice International Film Festival.
Filmography: The Way We Are (2008); All About Love (2010); The Golden Era (2014); Our Time Will Come (2017)
Sammo Hung
Having started out as a member of the performance troupe Seven Little Fortunes, Sammo Hung worked his way to become one of the most significant figures in martial arts cinema. The producer, director, screenwriter, and actor is known affectionately as “Big Big Brother” in the industry. In 1989, he received the Best Actor award at the 33rd Asia-Pacific Film Festival for his role as Yu Jim Yuen in the film Painted Faces (1988). Sammo Hung was the action director on Ip Man (2008), Ip Man 2 (2010), The Monkey King 2 (2016), and Paradox (2017).
Filmography: Blade of Fury (1993); Don’t Give a Damn (1995); Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997); My Beloved Bodyguard (2016)
Ringo Lam
Ringo Lam was a Hong Kong director best known for his action crime thrillers. His most famous films include Wild City (2015) and the On Fire trilogy. City on Fire (1987) is not only one of the most iconic Hong Kong crime movies, but it also inspired Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, which became a classic crime drama in American cinema. Ringo Lam passed away on December 29, 2018.
Filmography: City on Fire (1987); Replicant (2001); Triangle (2007); Wild City (2015)
Patrick Tam
A prominent figure in Hong Kong New Wave Cinema, Patrick Tam is celebrated for his experimental style and edgy cinematography. He was nominated for Best Film Editing twice at the Hong Kong Film Awards for Days of Being Wild (1990) and Ashes of Time (1994). Currently a visiting professor in the Academy of Film at Hong Kong Baptist University, he is dedicated to training a new crop of filmmakers. His 2006 movie After This Our Exile took home Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Filmography: Nomad (1982); Burning Snow (1988); My Heart Is That Eternal Rose (1989); After This Our Exile (2006)
Johnnie To
With acclaimed films including Election (2005) and The Mission (1999), Johnnie To has 26 Best Director nominations and six wins under his belt. His film Election 2 (2006) screened at Cannes Film Festival and Exiled (2006) was shown at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals. His 2011 film Life Without Principle was screened at the Venice, Toronto, and San Sebastián International Film Festivals, the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival, and the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.
Filmography: The Mission (1999); Election 2 (2006); Life Without Principle (2011); Chasing Dream (2019)
Hark Tsui
The director of Once Upon a Time in China (1991) and Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017), Hark Tsui is noted for his creative vision and adept use of filmmaking techniques. The Butterfly Murders (1979), which propelled Tsui to fame, subverted the martial arts genre, while Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) showcased his mastery of visual effects. He remains one of the highest-grossing film directors in Chinese-language cinema.
Filmography: The Butterfly Murders (1979); Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983); Once Upon a Time in China (1991); Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back (2017)
Wo Ping Yuen
Hong Kong martial arts film director Wo Ping Yuen pioneered the kung fu comedy genre with his smash hit Drunken Master (1978), which launched Jackie Chan’s career as a major action star. Yuen’s films, from Tai Chi Master (1993) starring Jet Li, to Wing Chun (1994) starring Michelle Yeoh, are all martial arts masterpieces. His work on The Matrix (1999) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) made him an internationally renowned action choreographer. Yuen is a six-time winner of Best Action Choreography and a recipient of the Professional Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Filmography: Tai Chi Master (1993); Wing Chun (1994); True Legend (2010); Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)