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On November 27, Kiwi Chow Kwun-wai’s “Revolution of Our Occasions” was topped greatest documentary movie at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Movie Competition. The award supplied a second of celebration for the movie’s topics, the thousands and thousands of Hong Kong residents who took to the streets in 2019 and 2020 to protest the draconian new Nationwide Safety Legislation, and served as a recognition of their hard-fought wrestle. The win additionally served to highlight growing movie censorship in Hong Kong, because the Chinese language authorities shunned the movie competition and mentions of Chow’s award have been deleted and censored on Chinese language social media. Kathleen Magramo from the South China Morning Submit described how Chow shared the movie’s success with all Hongkongers in his acceptance speech:
Chow accepted the award in a pre-recorded video message and stated he devoted the movie to “Hongkongers who’ve a conscience, justice and who’ve cried for Hong Kong”.
“I cried many instances when making the movie and lots of instances I discovered consolation, vented my anger and hatred, and confronted my worry and trauma by this movie,” the 42-year-old director stated.
“To those that have remained in Hong Kong, myself included,” he stated, choking again tears, “and to these to have emigrated abroad, or those that are in jail, regardless that you could not have the chance to see the movie, I actually pray to God that the mere existence of this movie can provide you solace and an embrace.” [Source]
Revolution of Our Occasions, a documentary by Kiwi Chow concerning the 2019 Hong Kong protests which is not going to be proven in Hong Kong, wins Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards in greatest documentary pic.twitter.com/gHjv4qQIJe
— Kris Cheng (@krislc) November 27, 2021
2019 Hong Kong protest documentary “Revolution of Our Occasions” @RoOT_film runs for #Oscar as they received “Greatest Documentary” in Taiwan’s Golden Horse Competition.
It is costly PR work to run an Oscar marketing campaign. They cannot afford it. So, PLEASE unfold this to the OSCAR circle. We want it. pic.twitter.com/vg9zkxPNwA— Nathan Legislation 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) November 27, 2021
Kiwi Chow’s phrases after his directed #HongKong protest movie @RoOT_film received Greatest Documentary Award, and his subsequent cease is, the #Oscars.
Video: @hkcnews_com pic.twitter.com/zVMzvGY3jI— Eileen Chang 😷⛑🥽🌂🧤🇭🇰 (@EileenEChang) November 27, 2021
He shared a narrative of 16yo frontline protestor stayed in PolyU with him returning to high school –
Folks now know his place.
The youth was afraid.
There have been solely hugs and tears from all.He needed to place this scene within the film, however he can’t. pic.twitter.com/3eLxAxJwUT
— Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) November 27, 2021
Producing such a movie was a harmful act for Chow, who saved his mission secret for 2 years. Given the truth that it paperwork anti-government protests, the movie challenges Hong Kong’s Nationwide Safety Legislation and the newly-passed Movie Censorship Legislation, which punishes anybody screening movies that run “in opposition to the pursuits of nationwide safety” with as much as three years in jail. Even the title of Chow’s movie may very well be thought of a provocation, as Hong Kong courts have equated the mere use of comparable slogans with “inciting subversion,” and have sentenced offenders to as much as seven years in jail. (So as to protect himself from any prosecution or authorized legal responsibility, Chow offered the movie’s copyright and unique supplies to a buddy abroad.) Most lately, the screenings of two different movies at Hong Kong’s Floor Up Scholar Movie Competition have been cancelled when Hong Kong’s Workplace for Movie, Newspaper and Article Administration (OFNAA) refused to grant a certificates of approval.
Nonetheless, Chow was decided to finish his movie and current it to the general public. The documentary premiered this summer time on the Cannes Movie Competition, the place its last-minute inclusion on the finish of the competition took the viewers unexpectedly. In an interview with Kelly Ho from the Hong Kong Free Press, Chow described his want to honor the protesters and the dangers they have been going through:
“I didn’t need to resign myself to worry. I feel that may be very shameful. My documentary was people-based. All of my interviewees – whether or not they confirmed their faces or not – have been taking immense dangers. If I cover, how ugly and shameful is that?” he requested.
[…] Chow recalled how one suffered an emotional breakdown in entrance of him whereas they have been trapped within the Hong Kong Polytechnic College, which was besieged by riot police for 2 weeks in November 2019.
The tearful protester, who was a “staff chief,” hugged Chow and stated he couldn’t discover any method to depart the college. Police had stated those that walked out of the Hung Hom campus could be arrested for rioting, which is punishable by 10 years in jail.
“I hugged him again and I cried too. I used to be like a vent for his feelings. One other protester stated he had numerous secrets and techniques and he couldn’t inform anybody. However he needed to let folks all over the world know, by my lens,” Chow stated. [Source]
A video submit by CDT Chinese language described how the sacrifices of the protesters gave Chow braveness to proceed in his work:
Is Chow afraid that “Revolution of Our Occasions” will carry hassle upon his household? He admits that he’s afraid, however says that he additionally has religion in his beliefs. “My religion is such that I don’t even worry dying, so I agree with the idea expressed by the self-immolator in [the film] ‘Ten Years’: ‘I don’t ask whether or not one thing is all proper or not all proper; I ask whether or not one thing is true or unsuitable.’” Chow can also be grateful to his household for all the time supporting and standing by him: “Truly, they don’t discuss me bringing hassle upon them, however quite, they supply me security of their midst.”
[…] Whereas filming the protests, Chow suffered accidents on many events, however the protesters would usually stand in entrance of him to assist protect him from assaults. This led the filmmaker to a sudden realization: “It wasn’t as if I went out onto the streets as a result of I had braveness; it was the entire technique of being on the market on the streets that gave me braveness.” In his concluding phrases, he says he needs to inform the regime, “You may’t use me to unfold worry, you possibly can solely use me to emphasise how very brave the folks of Hong Kong are.” [Chinese]
CDT Chinese language documented the movie’s censorship from mainland Chinese language social media and the web, and compiled netizen reactions to its success on the competition:
Home media has maintained a uniform silence about this yr’s Golden Horse Awards ceremony in Taiwan, with no associated information studies. On the key social media platforms in China, phrases associated to the occasion, similar to “Golden Horse Awards,” “Golden Horse,” and “Chow Kwun-wai” [the director’s name in Chinese] have all develop into delicate phrases. On Weibo and Douban, a key phrase seek for “Golden Horse Awards” yields the message: “In accordance with related legal guidelines, laws, and insurance policies, search outcomes can’t be displayed.” On Douban, listings and content material associated to the Golden Horse Awards can’t be up to date, and lots of Douban customers have been banned for posting Golden Horse Awards-related content material. Of the few surviving posts, most use homonyms or emoticons to switch delicate phrases similar to “Golden Horse Awards” or “Revolution of Our Occasions.”
[…] @生命面包超人: [This award] belongs to each Hongkonger who has a conscience, loves justice and has shed tears for Hong Kong.
[…] @匿名网友: Listening to Director Chow’s speech, I used to be choked up the entire time. We will’t fake to not be afraid, however within the midst of worry, we will do our greatest to tamp down our worry.
@yuan: Within the Chinese language-speaking world, mainlanders endure from an absence of ceremonial events to remind people who beliefs and freedoms have everlasting worth and are value pursuing and upholding. [This] reveals us the existence of the person, affirms the worth of the person, and confers glory on the person.
[…] @封我号的biss: The federal government of this “highly effective nation” is so fragile.
@虚室生白198408: I need to cry however I can’t. I grieve for my nation—a few of our compatriots have teamed up with the exploiters, to shoot bullets at their fellow countrymen.
[…] @linxiao1700: I’m not from Hong Kong, however each time I see images from that point, I cry.
@vanesa: Due to director Chow for leaving Hong Kong this beneficial historic file.
@陆皓东: That is historical past, that is the historic file! Let or not it’s handed down by the generations, in order that the world is aware of what occurred in Hong Kong in 2019, and is aware of what the folks of Hong Kong confronted. Due to Mr. Kiwi Chow Kwun-wai and his staff for his or her onerous work and dedication!
@许德谦Jeff Shu: The darkest skies have the brightest stars.
[…] @G KY: Thanks Taiwan, and thanks Golden Horse Awards! After I heard on-line that “Revolution of Our Occasions” had received the award, and heard the applause, and heard the cheers of Hongkongers, I couldn’t assist however weep. I hope this documentary can be seen not solely in Taiwan, however by all individuals who aspire to a free and democratic nation. I can’t overlook what I noticed, in individual or on-line: the historic ache of the folks of Hong Kong.
@一个爱吃爱煮的人: After I heard the host announce that “Revolution of Our Occasions” was the winner, I couldn’t maintain again my tears. Thanks, Director Chow, and “Gayau” [“Add Oil”], Hongkongers.
@马特top10: I hope that an increasing number of movies like this may pierce the wall and awaken the world. [Chinese]
The Chinese language authorities didn’t share the general public’s enthusiasm. The federal government’s movie regulator has urged actors, administrators, producers of mainland Chinese language movies to boycott the competition ever since one director known as for Taiwan’s independence in her award acceptance-speech in 2018. Responding to Chow’s award this week, the World Occasions grumbled that “the Golden Horse Awards have develop into a pathetic device kidnapped by politics, fully betraying the unique aspiration of offering tasteful merchandise for the general public.” Amongst the movies that received Golden Horse awards this yr, many touched on themes associated to the Hong Kong democracy protests. Oiwan Lam from World Voices described how Beijing’s political strain paradoxically turned the highlight on impartial filmmakers unafraid of tackling delicate points:
Beijing’s political strain has affected Hong Kong too. Administrators and actors outstanding within the business movie business have been compelled to say no the award nominations for worry of dropping the mainland Chinese language market. Unexpectedly, such tensions have generated an area for Hong Kong’s impartial, less-commercial productions.
[…] With lower than a 600,000 Hong Kong greenback price range (roughly 77,000 US {dollars}) manufacturing payment, Rex Ren and Lam Sum’s “Will you keep without end younger” was nominated for Greatest New Director and Greatest Movie Modifying.
The movie was additionally censored in Hong Kong, because it mentioned the 2019 protests. It incorporates a rescue staff who looked for younger protesters who tried to commit suicide resulting from generational conflicts inside their households.
The title, “Will you keep without end younger,” comes from a 15-year-old protester within the movie: “will folks be doomed to alter as they develop up? In that case, I don’t need to develop up.” [Source]
《少年》“Could You Keep Without end Younger” is a movie a few group of younger folks attempting to forestall their buddy from commiting suicide in the course of the HK protests.
It obtained 2 nominations @Golden_Horse movie competition. Trailer ends with “Can’t be screened in HK”https://t.co/zWrpvDqdnw pic.twitter.com/R5hOqiFbAr
— Combat For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong. 重光團隊 (@Stand_with_HK) October 11, 2021
Different types of visible leisure and tradition in Hong Kong present indicators of accelerating censorship by the Chinese language authorities. On the November opening of M+, Hong Kong’s new museum of up to date and visible artwork, quite a few artistic endeavors have been censored from the museum’s on-line catalog and bodily displays. In late November, Chan Ho-him and Primrose Riordan from the Monetary Occasions reported on Disney’s deletion of a Simpsons episode that references Tiananmen Sq., after the launch of its streaming service in Hong Kong:
The lacking episode known as Goo Goo Gai Pan options the American cartoon household flying to China to undertake a child, with a go to to Beijing’s Tiananmen Sq. exhibiting a big signal standing within the sq. saying: “On this web site, in 1989, nothing occurred.”
First aired in 2005, the episode guest-starred Lucy Liu and in addition confirmed Homer Simpson saying the previous Chinese language Communist social gathering chair Mao Zedong was a “little angel” who killed thousands and thousands.
[…] A examine by the Monetary Occasions on Saturday discovered that each one the episodes of season 16 of The Simpsons have been accessible on Disney Hong Kong apart from episode 12, which contained the scenes in query. [Source]
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