What’s on? Things to do this November in Hong Kong

Mark your calendars and see the amazing swim across Victoria Harbour or views flicks at the film festivals or absorb cultural offerings at museums, music festivals and dance performances this November.

New World Harbour Race

Against the superb and unforgettable backdrop of the Hong Kong skyline, this challenging swim allows competitors to test their mettle in the waters of Victoria Harbour. The cross-harbour race, which traces its roots back to 1906, is always a popular draw and welcomes thousands of avid participants from across the world. Swimmers on the day will commence from the Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai and finish at the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui. The quota for entrants this year has increased to 4,000 and there will be an elite International Race as well as hardy swimmers from across the Greater Bay Area taking the plunge.

When: 12 November

Where: Victoria Harbour

How much: Free

Muse Fest HK 2023

Explore the cultural delights on offer across various venues in the city’s history, art and science museums under the theme ‘Hong Kong H.A.S. Museums. All month there are multifarious events designed to broaden your horizons and understanding of mind-blowing subjects such as the wonders of science fiction as portrayed at an exhibition staged by the Hong Kong Science Museum. A two-day carnival entitled ‘A Fiesta of Imagination’ is a highlight. This is just one of a superb series of events and programmes across many venues which allow visitors to absorb knowledge and soak up culture.

When: 1-30 November

Where: Various venues

How much: Free

For more information: museums.gov.hk

The Great Gatsby

Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre captures the essence of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, in a wonderful portrayal of life lived to excess in opulent 1920s America – a tale of never-ending parties, unbridled greed and obsessive desires simmering not far from the surface in high-society New York. Performed against the backdrop of a steamy jazz-infused soundtrack and art deco sets by Tim Yip, dancers along with vocalist E. Faye Butler and narrator James Seol capture the spirit of the age.

When: 4-5 November

Where: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

How much: From $220

Jewish Film Festival

Asia’s flagship Jewish festival has gone from strength to strength and now offers a magnificently diverse range of films showcasing Jewish life. The number of filmmakers keen for their work celebrating the Jewish tradition to be showcased in Hong Kong has grown, with 21 features, documentaries and short films able to be enjoyed.

When: 11-19 November

Where: Golden Scene Cinema, Kennedy Town

How much: From $110 per film; all access pass HK$1,800

For more information: hkjff.org

Asian Film Festival

Watch some of the finest films Asia has to offer at various cinemas throughout Hong Kong. Almost 100 films will be aired during the festival, which has gained international recognition for the quality and breadth of its programme. In addition to locally produced features, regional selections from the far and near will be screened. Masterclasses and workshops will be staged by renowned filmmakers such as Shunji Iwai and Koji Yakusho, while eight directors including Taiwan’s Lee Hong- chi vie for the New Talent Award.

When: Until 17 November

Where: Various venues

How much: From $95

For more information: hkaff.asia

Pop Culture Festival

Hong Kong certainly has its own distinctive pop culture and a whole raft of acts will be performing throughout a festival that urges us to ‘Let’s Pop’. There will also be outdoor activities, thematic exhibitions and film screenings to bring back memories and conjure up masterpieces from Hong Kong’s golden era of Cantopop in the ’80s and ’90s. The festival highlights the progress over the years of local pop music, its creativity and its character.

When: Until 18 November

Where: Various venues

How much: Various prices

For more information: pcf.gov.hk

Killing TV

Interaction between art and television is the concept behind Killing TV, as 15 contemporary artists from a mix of backgrounds contribute to an exhibition that explores the cultural, psychological and social impact of the boob tube. A range of videos including performance art and sculptural installations as well as TV shows and commercials will excite the senses and stimulate memories from the past, present and the future while addressing television’s pervasive power since the 1970s.

When: Until 19 November

Where: Tai Kwun

How much: Free

For more information: taikwun.hk

Night Vibes Hong Kong @ Museums

As efforts to support the ‘Night Vibes Hong Kong’ campaign gather momentum, Hong Kong museums are offering special programmes to bolster evenings out around town. The Hong Kong Museum of Art presents a range of exhibitions and screens a romantic local film.

When: Until 26 November

Where: Hong Kong Museum of Arts, Hong Kong Science Museum and Hong Kong Space Museum

How much: Various prices

For more information: lcsd.gov.hk

Great Music 2023

Winding down this month is a series of concerts under the Great Music 2023 umbrella that has seen musicians from around the world gather in Hong Kong to perform a plethora of programmes catering to a wide variety of tastes. The eclectic musical mix concludes with some superb piano-centric performances. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott team up once again, youthful South Korean talent Seong-Jin Cho hits the keys during a stirring recital, and veteran Brazilian jazz artist Eliane Elias lets rip.

When: Until 28 November

Where: Various venues

How much: Various prices

For more information: lcsd.gov.hk

First Asian superhero in a Marvel movie: Simu Liu as ‘Shang-Chi’

The tide is rising in the Marvel multiverse, and there’s never been a more appropriate time to be a socially progressive fan of the superhero world.

Simu Liu, the 32-year-old Chinese-Canadian newbie actor of Kim’s Convenience fame, is shaking things at the white boys’ club. As the first Asian lead of a Marvel superhero film, he’s on the cusp of becoming the face of diversity, representing a population which isn’t all white, whilst carving out a permanent place for himself amongst Hollywood A-listers.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, due for release on 3 September, showcases a predominantly Asian cast, and pits superhero Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) against the terrorist group, Ten Rings, that was introduced in Iron Man. Social media sensation and Crazy Rich Asians’ actor Awkwafina also stars.
We take a look at Liu’s rocky path to stardom, which mirrors the progress of the times.

Canada Bound
Born in Harbin in 1989, Liu was raised by his grandparents until the age of five. His parents had migrated to Ontario to complete their education at Queen’s University and “start a better life”. By 1995, they were financially secured for their son to join them, but the two generations of the family were complete strangers. In an open letter to his parents, Liu states, “I was excited to finally meet my real parents and start my life in Canada, but I had no recollection of you.” It was a period of resentment, tough adjustment and culture shock for the youngster. “We fought often… If I tripped on my laces, I was clumsy. If I scored below an A, I was stupid. If I wanted to hang out with my friends, I was wasting my time. I spoke dismissively about you, told you I hated you, and that I couldn’t wait to leave the house. But privately, I yearned for your love and affection.”

From Accounting to Acting
Like most Asian families, Liu’s highly qualified, aerospace-engineer parents raised him to pursue a career in the sciences. Little did they know destiny had other plans. After graduating from Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School by the skin of his teeth, he got an accounting job with Deloitte in its downtown Toronto office. It was crash and burn from the word go. Liu hated crunching numbers, Deloitte was not a fan, and after nine months, he was laid off. “The first round of cuts, and I was right out,” he recalls.

Ashamed and embarrassed, he considered leaping from the balcony to avoid facing his high-achieving parents. But the thing about hitting rock bottom is that you can only go up. A pink slip motivated him to try something new – performing arts – and he was instantly drawn to the world of acting.

Also Read: Five things you really need to know about Andrew Garfield

More than a Stunt
Liu’s leading man status has been hard-earned. He started out as a stunt artist; Hollywood expected an Asian man in the industry to know martial arts. As a side gig, he performed stunts at birthday parties for extra cash. Serendipitously, it was a Craigslist ad directed him to his first acting role – an extra “deep, deep in the background” in the 2013 sci-fi film, Pacific Rim.

The aspiring star has always showed drive. Not one to sit back and wait for the ideal role or the perfect opportunity, he grabbed whatever came his way and gave it his all – and that tactic has paid off, big time!

Plea to Marvel
The struggling actor was “handing out dog-food samples on the side of the road in Toronto” when he put out this 2014 tweet, “Hey @Marvel, great job with Cpt America and Thor. Now how about an Asian-American hero?” Seven years later, he has just become one.
Unbeknownst to him, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, often criticised for its affinity with conventionally handsome white males, was internally rebooting to stay socially and politically relevant in the #MeToo age. It was gearing up to unveil a swathe of diverse superheroes. Shang Chi, with its momentous Asian casting, promises to be one of this year’s marquee blockbuster releases. Simu Liu as a Chinese superhero has not only deepened the conversation around race and representation – the step up is also being seen as a huge leap for Hollywood – one that marks progress over profits and doesn’t reduce diversity to an act of tokenism, a stunt or a sidekick.

Happy Convenience
Years of toil on the acting fringes paid off in 2016 with a role in critically acclaimed Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience, the show about the day-to-day happenings of a Korean immigrant family. Liu plays one of the central characters, Jung Kim, in this smash hit; it quickly drew an avid following and was one of the most watched comedies on Netflix in 2018. Ironically, the show runs parallel to his own life and immigrant story.

Umma (Jean Yoon) and Appa (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee) are mellow, easy-going folk, who gradually begin to see the world beyond the prejudices that surface with each new customer. Much like Liu’s own experiences, the children in the show – Janet and Jung – learn to appreciate their parents’ struggle, live through their idiosyncrasies and find love, care and support in their largely affectionless home. In the end, despite all the ups and downs, everyone pretty much gets along. Similarly, as Liu matured, he came to see the world through his parents’ eyes. His open letter is a tribute to them: “In hindsight, I know that you were doing the best. Money was always tight. And so you worked hard and often. You pushed me as hard as you could so that I would never have to know the struggle of not knowing where my next meal would come from.”

Familiar Face
With more than 30 film, TV and ad credits to his name, including Fresh Off The Boat, Orphan Black, Slasher and Bad Blood, the actor is increasingly popular on both the big and small screen. But you might recognise him from somewhere else. In 2014, during his dog-food promoting days, Liu did a photoshoot for iStock images for US$120 – a quick cash solution that he, at the time, didn’t realise would be splashed all over the internet – for countless job advertisements, bus posters and even as the cover of accounting books. “That stock photo shoot always finds a way to come back and haunt me. LOL”, he shares with his fans on Instagram.

Turning Point?
The world in which we grew up could not imagine an Asian as the face of a Marvel movie. Representation matters when you have millions of eyeballs forming an image of what heroes look like. Simu Liu’s starring role sends a powerful message – that in 2021, race, gender and sexual orientation should not come in the way of being a hero. Hopefully, the tide will continue to rise from one studio to another until the day issues of diversity will no longer be magazine stories.

(Text: Nikita Mishra)

Also Read: Think you know all about Colin Firth? It could be you’ve got him all wrong…

Five things you really need to know about Andrew Garfield

Tick, Tick BOOM! is an appropriate enough title for the latest movie from ex-Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield as, despite its protracted and highly-public production countdown, no-one seems entirely sure as when it’s likely to explode on to screens. What we do know is it’s a musical, Netflix has bagged the broadcast rights and, apparently, it has to be contractually released before the end of the current year. While waiting for firmer tidings of the likely timings and critical reception, it’s the ideal opportunity to while away an idle moment or two uncovering Five Things You Almost Certainly Didn’t Know About Andrew Garfield…

One: Unlike most actors who are born out in the sticks and then head Hollywood-wards. Garfield was actually born within posturing distance of Tinseltown, before promptly decamping some 8,800 kilometres northeast to Epsom, an English market town best known for its bath salts. The second son of California-born Richard and Essex girl Lynn (who together ran an interior design business), the young Garfield divided his early years between stamp-collecting and swimming, proof positive, perhaps, of the limited opportunities London commuterland afforded an aspiring thesp.

Thankfully, he was able to follow up on his dramatic impulses by first enrolling in a Theatre Studies course at his local school, then graduating to the University of London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, the alma mater of such bigscreen heavyweights as Dame Judi Dench, Carrie Fisher and Sir Laurence Olivier. He then served his time in the world of provincial UK theatre (winning the Outstanding Newcomer Award at the prestigious Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2006), before making a guest appearance in the BBC’s Doctor Who, the world’s longest-running science fiction series. Various TV and movie supporting roles followed, before he hit the big time as the star of two high profile 2010 movies – Never Let Me Go and The Social Network. Two years later, he was Spider-Man.

Two: It’s fair to say that it was The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) that transformed the actor’s fortunes from: “Andrew, who?” to “Oh really? I thought it was Toby Maguire…” (the incumbent Spidey in the preceding web-slinging trilogy). Despite describing the role as a “massive challenge in many ways” – and despite the popularity of his long-standing predecessor, it soon seemed as though Garfield had made the part his own. Indeed, The Guardian – the relatively, high-brow, left-leaning former broadsheet not best known for its love of the cinematic superhero genre – went as far as to acclaim him as “the definitive Spider-Man”. Sadly, he didn’t stay definitive for all that long.

Although he was once again swinging across the New York skyline in 2014’s somewhat unimaginatively-titled The Amazing Spider-Man 2, it was to be his last outing as the arachnid-venomed villain-thwarter. The third part of the putative trilogy – which, let’s take a wild stab, was called The Amazing Spider-Man 3 – was sadly never to be.
Disappointingly, it wasn’t Doc Ock, the Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter or any other of Spidey’s gaudy back catalogue of bad-doers that saw him off. Rather more prosaically, it was the conclusion of a long-term global copyright contretemps. This saw the rights to Spidey relinquished by Sony and permission granted for Peter Parker (the webslinger’s alter ego) to join the rest of the cinematic Marvel universe in time for 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, a sort of prelude to the box-office bazookaing end of the wider Avengers’ storyline.

Sadly, when Spidey did get to catch up with the rest of his comic book counterparts – notably Thor, the Hulk and Iron Man – he looked a lot like 20-year-old up-and-coming actor Tom Holland and not a bit like the now surplus-to-requirements Garfield.

Three: Although dumped from the Spideyverse, Garfield can take some comfort from the fact his undoubted charms have seen him woo some of the world’s most beautiful women. Just prior to cinematic superheroing taking him centrestage, he was in a long-term relationship with Westworld actress Shannon Woodward. This apparently foundered when superstardom kept the couple apart. The fact that Woodward came out as gay a couple of years later, however, probably indicates the affair was ill-fated from the off.

Later years saw him linked to his The Amazing Spider-Man co-star Emma Stone, fellow Marvel alumnus Susie Abromeit and Rita Ora, the feted and award-winning British singer-songwriter. More recently, he was said to have been dating stunning model and med school graduate, 27-year-old Christine Gabel. Rumour has it, though, that they too have split, with born-again bachelor Garfield apparently spending much of 2020 isolating at home alone.

Four: Thankfully, the Covid-19 outbreak didn’t totally curtail his dramatic career, with filming of the forthcoming Tick, Tick BOOM! completed in November last year. The movie sees Garfield take on the role of Johnathan Larson, a wannabe playwright reduced to waiting tables in New York while he awaits his big break.

Said to be an autobiographical tale – the “real” Johnathan Larson, the man behind the Tony Award-winning musical Rent, wrote and composed the piece – the movie also stars Alexandra Shipp and Vanessa Hudgens, while marking the directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creative tour de force behind Hamilton, one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time.

Five: While excitement is certainly building with regard to the premiere of Tick, Tick BOOM!, it’s upcoming arrival has been all but eclipsed by rumours of Something Even Bigger waiting in the wings – Garfield’s return as Spider-Man. Even more compelling, there is no suggestion that his successor, Holland, has been ousted, but rather that he will be joining him (and his own predecessor Maguire) in the allegedly dimension-hopping Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is due to hit your local multiplex at some point in December this year.

Should the rumours be borne out, this will see the Spidermen of various realities teaming up to combat a veritable multi-verse of villains, with Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx and Rhys Ifans returning as Doctor Octopus, Electro and The Lizard respectively from their own earlier incarnations of the franchise. Although Marvel Studios is proving coy about officially confirming this mix and matching of the wider Spidyverse, it’s now come to be regarded as petty much the Worst Kept Scripting Secret in Hollywood (and competition is high for such a title).

It’s fair to say, should it not come to pass, several generations of the Webbed Wonder’s most devout followers are going be left choking on their novelty Peter Parker Popcorn packets. Good as it might well certainly be, the eventual arrival of Tick, Tick BOOM!, may not suffice to make up for any such disappointment.

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5 binge-worthy foreign language shows to watch on Netflix now

Netflix currently enjoys the distinction of being one of the world’s most popular streaming platforms for film enthusiasts, as well as casual binge-watchers. Providing global access to its platform, language barriers on Netflix have come down more and more, with the continuing expansion of its offerings of foreign films and TV shows. Here are five binge-worthy foreign- language worth watching on Netflix over the weekend.

Dark (German)

A science fiction thriller that will rattle its audience with mind-bending twists that cleverly uses time travel elements in building a story that tracks four families and their connection to one another. Netflix’s first German original series will keep their audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the entire show.

Money Heist (Spain)

The international Netflix phenomenon has won over fans around the world and even inspired a documentary film that carries the same name. After four well-received seasons, a fifth and final season has been confirmed. So, those who have yet to jump onto the Money Heist bandwagon still have time to catch up with the lovable band of misfits before their heist ends.

Kingdom (South Korea)

Following the success of Train to Busan and #Alive, this horror TV series delivers another epic and gruesome zombie creation that will again provide great entertainment to international viewers. Set in Korea’s Joseon period after Japan’s invasion of the country, Crown Prince Lee Chang comes across a political conspiracy and investigates a plague that reanimates the dead.

Atelier (Japan)

Comparable to the 2006 American film The Devil Wears Prada, Atelier follows Mayuko Tokita and her coming-of-age journey as she struggles with her relationship with her employer, Mayumi Nanjo, creator and owner of the fictional high-end lingerie design house in Tokyo, Emotion.

Call My Agent! (France)

This show’s plot revolves around a team of agents who manage some of the top celebrities in Paris. Struggling to keep their business running smoothly amid a crisis in the entertainment industry, the characters take on a wide array of challenges, including ageism and sexism within the industry, and tackle them with humorous twists and intrigues comparable to American TV series, Entourage.

2020-2021 Mentors and Protégés announced for Rolex’s Arts Initiative

Artistic and creative vision may be a constant in our world, but transforming it into an actual work of art requires knowledge and expertise that must be passed down through the generations. It’s a cause wholly supported by luxury Swiss horology brand Rolex, with its Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative aiming to support and perpetuate artistic excellence. Launched in 2002, this project pairs an experienced mentor and an upcoming talent in a particular form of art.

Recently, the luxury brand announced the one-to-one pairs for this cycle (2020-21). This year the chosen fields for the Arts Initiative include film, theatre, visual arts and an open category. Below is a brief mention of the pairs that will be working closely for the next two years.

In the film category, Spike Lee, the director of the Academy award-winning film Blackklansman will be training Kyle Bell – a filmmaker who worked on the Emmy-winning documentary production Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People.

Known for directing the groundbreaking musical and film Mamma Mia!, Phyllida Lloyd will be guiding Whitney White – the artist of positively critiqued theatrical creations like What to Send Up When it Goes Down.

As for visual arts, the multi-talented Carrie Mae Weems, who has executed her skills through her films, performances, scripts and more, has chosen to transfer her wisdom to Camila Rodríguez Triana – a Colombian visual artist whose creations have been displayed on exhibitions across Europe and South America.

Lastly, the well-known and award-winning actor Lin-Manuel Miranda will be working on the open category session. The trainee for this will be announced in March.

Click here for more details on this philanthropic mentorship programme.

8 Films to see in Hong Kong cinemas this March

What’s on the table for a March full of movies in the 852? Childhood favourites meet sci-fi, kickass female figures, video game worlds and… The Bible?!

A Wrinkle in Time vs. Goodbye Christopher Robin

Bring your: Kids / nephews / nieces!

It only took half a century for Disney to finally bring this childhood favourite to life. The science fantasy adventure follows the journey of Meg Murry and her brother who travel across the universe to save their astrophysicist father, Alex.

Fun fact: Mrs. Which is played by none other than Oprah Winfrey, our featured celebrity on the March 2018 print issue!

Release date: 8 March 2018

If you prefer period dramas to other planets, however, get tickets to Goodbye Christopher Robin instead. The biographical drama takes us back to WWII in 1940s England where Winnie-the-Pooh creator A. A. Milne wrote his first comics in a country house with wooded acreage.

Fun Fact: Australian actress and film producer Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad) stars as Milne’s wife Daphne. The blonde was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world last year and part of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

Release date: 15 March 2018

Red Sparrow vs. Tomb Raider

Bring your: Girlfriend(s)!

After a dearth of seriously awesome kickass female leads following the retirement of Angeline Jolie as Lara Croft in 2001, it looks like Gal Gadot (aka Wonderwoman) has propelled Hollywood into a revival of female powerhouses. And this month, we’re getting not one but TWO alpha-female showcases: Red Sparrow starring Jennifer Lawrence and a new Tomb Raider starring Alicia Vikander (Tulip Fever, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.).

Release date: 1 March 2018

In Red Sparrow, Lawrence plays a Russian ballerina-turned-spy who targets the CIA but obviously cannot help but fall in love with someone from Team America. Meanwhile, the latest installment of Tomb Raider takes us to Cape Town where Lara Croft (not unlike Meg Murry) tries to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance.

Release date: 15 March 2018

Ready Player One

Bring your: Fellow dorks!

If Tomb Raider is based on a 2013 video game but happens in real life, Ready Player One is based on a 2011 novel but happens in a video game. Specifically, in an interconnected virtual space called the OASIS. Warner Bros. and Steven Spielberg partner up once again to bring viewers into a fantastical world: a near-future dystopian Earth in which people interact via virtual reality. A teenager battles an evil cyber corporation and, well, you know how the story goes…

Release date: 29 March 2018

Game Night

Bring your: Date!

Yep, more players and more games in yet another Warner Bros. production. This one stars Rachel McAdams whose friends’ interactive role-playing mystery game suddenly becomes too real to handle.

Release date: 15 March 2018

Den of Thieves

Bring your: Lads!

It looks like the gents won’t quite let the ladies do all the ass-kicking on the big screen this month. Gerard Butler carries the torch for man-kind in this heist film set in Los Angeles. L.A.P.D. blah blah team of robbers blah blah Federal Reserve blah blah shootout, strippers blah blah… but this time, Butler is American Irish (O’Brien), not just Irish (P.S. I Love You)…

Fun Fact: Curtis Jackson (as in, “In da Club” 50 Cent) plays robber Levi Enson Levoux

Release date: 22 March 2018

Mary Magdalene

Bring your: Church friends!

For those in the fold – the Church fold, that is – the end of March signifies the end of Lent for Catholics, and Easter for Christians in general. That means, time for a biblical drama film starring Joaquin Phoenix (Her, Reservation Road) as Jesus Christ. Reviews were quite unforgiving but hey, it might serve as a worthy substitute for Sunday School that week…

Release date: 29 March 2018

Words: Julienne C. Raboca