HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE
PAI NIANG NIANG: THE LAST OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM
U.S. PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Documentary | 2023 | 65 minutes | In Cantonese/Mandarin & English with Chinese & English Subtitles
DIRECTOR: Isabel Wong
Director Isabel Wong is scheduled to appear in-person for an intro and post-film Q&A.
Additionally, Rebecca Pan will be a virtual recipient of our APUC Lifetime Achievement Award.
SYNOPSIS:
In March 1972, Rebecca Pan self-financed the production of the first ever Mandarin musical, PAI NIANG NIANG (1972) and performed for 60 times at Princess Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. This is not only a piece of history of Hong Kong art and culture, but also the most important milestone of Rebecca’s oeuvre. This work used the Broadway musical model to adapt the famous Chinese myth Legend of the White Snake. Bringing together Eastern and Western theatrical styles, the production combined Chinese traditional music, dance, costume and stage design with modern Western concepts. Despite this bold attempt, the resulting work was ahead of its time and was not a commercial success. Also, it was thought to have not been captured on film and faded into obscurity. In April, 2024, however, a partial film record of the performance was miraculously discovered. The restored surviving footage has become the finale of this documentary, PAI NIANG NIANG: THE LAST OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM.
This documentary is directed by director Wong Tsui-Wah, Isabel. During the years of observation and excavation, Isabel has been looking for various aspects of PAI NIANG NIANG, and through this documentary, she recorded every detail of PAI NIANG NIANG.
Isabel Wong, Director
Wong Tsui-Wah, Isabel is a screenwriter, director, multi-media producer, and curator.
She has worked in television as a script reviewer for drama content and as a programme producer for variety shows. She has written more than 20 drama series, and she has produced music programmes and award ceremonies. In 2021, she was appointed Content Director of TVB Music Group, with a focus on album and concert production. She founded the studio Artcanteen and is passionate about documentary filmmaking. In 2022, she curated a photo exhibition of Ms Rebecca Pan - Rebecca Pan Wan Ching Will The Orange Blossom Smile Photo Journey. She is working on a documentary celebrating the achievements of Filipino musicians in Hong Kong.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
5:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
THIS SCREENING IS PART OF OUR HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE AND IS PRESENTED WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC & TRADE OFFICE NEW YORK.
