3 reasons to visit Hong Kong Arts Centre this month

3 reasons to visit Hong Kong Arts Centre this month

Dedicated to cultivating the audience and development of Hong Kong movies, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC), provides a selection of movies that celebrates Hong Kong filmmakers.

Featuring the works of emerging Hong Kong filmmakers and paying tribute to legendary film masters, we round up the top three movies not to miss at Hong Kong Arts Centre this month.

Throw Down (Digitally restored) 

10/8 (Fri) 7:30pm | 13/8 (Mon) 8pm | 30/8 (Thur) 7:30pm*
*Screenwriter Yau Nai-hoi and guest director Jack Lai will attend after-screening talk. 

This month’s ‘Great Hong Kong Movies’ series will showcase Throw Down, released in 2004 as a tribute to the legendary film master Akira Kurosawa. This visually arresting action drama from acclaimed director Johnnie To (Running On, Karma, Breaking News) follows legendary Judo fighter, Sze-To as he unexpectedly gives up his beloved sport and lives life as an alcoholic gambler who runs a pub. After a brash Judo champion newcomer challenges him to duel, Sze-To is encouraged to finish the match that never took place. Soon, Sze-To’s pub becomes the ultimate arena where the greatest Judo fighters show off their skills. Filled with brutality, Throw Down is an emotional tale of one man’s determination to win at all costs.

 

Hong Kong | 2004 | 95 minutes |
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles | DCP | Colour

 

Taxi Stories

11/8 (Sat) 7:45pm*
*Post-screening Q&A Session with Director Doris Yeung via Skype

As a celebration of Hong Kong indie movies, ‘Independantly Yours’  makes a comeback as a recurrent screening programme, 20 years after its initial presentation by the HKAC.

First up in this month’s programme is Taxi Stories, a myriad of three stories based in three different Asian cities, where the paths of the rich and poor cross one another in and around taxis. A closeted Beijing taxi driver, a pregnant Hong Kong trophy wife and a Jakarta slum orphan. All three characters are eager to connect on a basic human level but are their own worst obstacles. Showcasing a new world, where social mobility is linked to increasing wealth, this movie explores how money divides and separates each of them, making it tough to for them to be who they really are, not what they appear to be.

 

Hong Kong, Indonesia, China, Netherlands|2017|98 min
In Cantonese, English, Indonesian & Putonghua with Chinese & English subtitles|DCP|Colour

 

Small Talk

 31/8 (Fri) 7:45pm*
*Post-screening Q&A Session with Director Huang Hui-chen via Skype

The second pick from Hong Kong Art Centre’s  ‘Independantly Yours’  programme showcases Small Talk, released in 2016. This movie explores the relationship between a mother and daughter from the young girls eyes. Her mother wakes up well before her, prepares her lunch and takes off. Every evening after eating out, she comes home, washes up and closes her bedroom door, ensuring she is fast sleep by 9pm. While they haved lived in the same house for decades, they live life like they are strangers to each other. Explore the journey as a daughter finally gets the courage to talk to her mother. But will she be ready to hear what she has to say?

 

Taiwan | 2016 | 88 minutes
In Taiwanese and Mandarin with English subtitles  | DCP | Colour

 

Venue: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai 

To book tickets: Urbix or call (852) 3761 6661 

For more information: www.hkac.org.hk

Hong Kong Arts Centre’s Late-Night Programme

The Easter holiday is approaching fast and those choosing to stay in the 852 are in for a treat! The Hong Kong Arts Centre’s annual Open House is back for its 7th year on 30 March. Visitors will be taken on a one-day art journey of exploration, amusement and wonder through a range of events including exhibitions, talks, movies, music, workshops, guided tours and more.

HKAC

Celebrating its first Open House since the Centre’s refurbishment, the Centre are for the first time, offering a late-night programme. During this one-off celebration, the Centre will be open from 2pm to 2am, where art enthusiasts can enjoy offerings from different cultural organisations.

This year’s theme is Taste Art which explores the similarities between our appetite and lust for both food and art.  Through the taste of food and expression in art, we allow ourselves to see the silver linings in our daily lives. Stimulating our senses, satisfying our body and minds and igniting our passions, both food and art make life a little bit sweeter.

Check out the full details below: 

Just Moment Salon

Situated along the Victoria Harbour, the salon offers you a space to slow down and appreciate every moment of your life. Surrounded by sparkling skyscrapers at nightfall and with the help of some light music, guests can enjoy Story Console, where playwrights Chester Wong and Santanya Li will be sharing their unique life stories, or Soundscape Diffusion where you can listen to other’s stories. Music performers KaMing & NgaYi, Hakgwai and Bou Kwan Ying will sing out their Just Moment through a series of live performances.

For tickets, please click here 

Movie Night

During this year’s special movie night session, guests will have the chance to watch Naoko Ogigami’s “Kamome Diner” (2005) and Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” (1985). Despite their distinct styles and a 30-year time gap, both films use Japanese cuisine as a cultural backdrop to explore the dynamic relationships between chefs and diners with food and life, alluding to greater discussions on life’s simplicity, human nature for desires and devotion to one’s craft. In the age of rapid acceleration, we often need to slow down to contemplate what it means to truly live, and to delineate the difference between having an expensive meal, and savouring a simple, well-brewed tea.

For tickets, please click here 

HKAC late-night programme

Food, Life, Tasting Corner

11pm @HKAC G/F Lobby

Guests with a Just Moment Salon or Movie Night ticket can enjoy delicacies (English Style Pale Ale, American Style Pale Ale, English Style Stout, coffee, rice ball & cinnamon roll) at the Food, Life, Tasting Corner and will receive a set of souvenirs. 

So if you are wondering what to do this Easter, stop right there. Take the time to slow down and appreciate the simple yet beautiful things with this late-night programme, rounding off a month of all things Art