Directing
This documentary depicts the stories of four Chinese activists—Xie Wenfei, Zhang Shengyu, Chen Yunfei, and Liu Ping—who faced torture. It also invites Hong Kong participants Chan Ho-wun, Li On-yin, Chen Hung Sau, and Cheung Chiu-hung to experience and reflect on these situations through simulated installations. The film highlights that in the advancement of human civilization, "human rights", "rule of law", and "democracy" are mutually indispensable and interdependent. In countries ruled by authoritarian regimes, the rule of law cannot be upheld, let alone the protection of human rights.
No matter how quickly or far the times move forward, some people and some events will always be remembered by someone. June Fourth has yet to be redressed, rights activists have disappeared, and justice for indigenous peoples remains convoluted and slow. All these injustices bring sorrow. Yet, they refuse to give up; they keep thinking, acting, connecting with like-minded people, and creating alternative spaces in the land where they live. A one-party wall stands before them, making each step difficult; even with party alternation, nothing is guaranteed. They all know this. In these dark times, they join hands and move forward together, often very slowly, very slowly. Perhaps, one day, they will meet each other.
Booklovers, booksellers, storytellers and writers can easily squeeze into various demos of important issues. This documentary brings this group of people in the limelight, discussing the value of art space in bookshops. The book-loving director Kong King Chu visited independent bookshops in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia for three to four years, tried to understand how a bookshop can become a dynamic, inspiring and heartwarming space, even these booksellers carry different attitude towards life, books and community, as well as management beliefs. These booksellers do not care about the commercial value emphasized by the capitalist society and they are content in their own way by sharing their enthusiasm about books with the others in spite of all difficulties. Thus, they keep trying new methods to sharpen their touch on social issues and become an important starting point for the general public to reflect upon conflicts in our society.
Franco Mella is a devoted figure whose life bridges Catholicism and Communism. He has journeyed through Asia, lived simply, and fought for social justice, notably within Hong Kong's protest history as depicted in "Ordinary Heroes" (1999). Mella's path weaves through religious and revolutionary movements, from church beginnings to Communist activism and the Handover, always driven by his missionary spirit and communist ideals. For four decades, he has steadfastly championed the oppressed, undeterred by shifting politics, expressing solidarity through music and protest, and remaining a symbol of wisdom and resilience for the people of Hong Kong.
After the 2014 Umbrella Movement, Hong Kong Democrats divided into two groups with differing beliefs and protest methods. ‘Community March’ members, often labelled as leftards, focus on fearless community work and caring for minorities, despite not joining frontline protests. Senior journalists Lo King Wah and Kong King Chu highlight their dedication to community service and democratic ideals, showing how they persist in voicing concerns and promoting democracy despite political repression.
People leave, taking much with them and leaving much behind. The poet Meng Lang passed away from illness in December 2018. He was forced into exile by political oppression in Shanghai, fled to the United States, then arrived in Hong Kong, and finally chose to settle in Taiwan. Throughout his life, Meng Lang pursued freedom with the will of a poet and lived passionately. He opposed tyranny through his actions and celebrated the power of literature through his poetry. His life was a journey of wandering and migration, and along the way, those he met and came to like were mostly poets. His wife, friends, and comrades discussed poetry and politics with him, and all felt the warmth and kindness he brought to his interactions. In a noisy era, everyone is hurried along by fate. At some moment, with deep reluctance, everyone bid farewell to Meng Lang and set out again on their journeys.
While China’s national strength has tremendously increased over the past decade, its human right situation and freedom have rapidly deteriorated. In 2012, human rights lawyers even figured first in the list of the “New Black Five Categories”. A series of government’s repressive actions, together with the 709 Crackdown in 2015, have severely damaged the rule of law in China, and inevitably changed the fate of human rights defenders. Being forced to live in exile, lawyers and their families have jointly borne the pain of repression no matter if they are inside or outside the country. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLW_BaCM5RY
