This week the Hong Kong Film Association announced the winners of the prestigious Hong Kong Film Awards, held via a video telecast for the first time in the award history rather than one of the most star-studded red carpets and ceremonies in Asian cinema. For me the magnificence, resonance, and inspiring impact of movies that challenge the heart, mind, and soul don’t need fancy events to mark their excellence, and an award means just as much an acknowledgement done remotely as in person. The HK-China joint production movie Better Days (The Youthful Me) directed by Derek Tsang (son of Hong Kong scion Eric Tsang and also who directed hite movie Soul Mate) swept the event winning 8 awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress among the wins.
Female lead Zhou Dong Yu took him Best Actress for playing a high school girl bullied in China and the movie is about her connection with a tough outcast as the two find meaning in living and this movie sounds incredible and also highly triggering for anyone who lived through schoolyard bullying. Best Actor went to HK veteran actor Tai Bo for the senior gay love move Suk Suk (Uncle) as it explored two old men who finally have a chance to experience love after they have lived most of their lives according to society expectations. I’m so happy and satisfied to see the HK Film Awards acknowledge and reward movies and performances that touch upon margins of society yet give hope that perhaps happiness can be within reach.
Zhou Dongyu is hands down the most talented Chinese actress of her generation. She’s been slaying with great performances year after year. Well, she’s a Zhang Yimou’s girl, fast putting her on the same level as the likes of Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi (though i find her overrated).
I have always suspected the HK film industry is a closed system and that is one reason why it has failed to improve with time. Giving this award to Eric Tsang’s son is so obvious it is biased. I hear the story of Better days is a copy of the famous Japanese writer’s Keigo Higashino novels.
It was adapted from a novel, I thought. In His Youth, In Her Beauty.
HK may be a closed system- I don’t know enough to comment on that. I though Better Days was a beautiful movie. Well acted, compelling and understated screens. The way the cinematography showed the grime and sorrow and the brief moments of beauty were great. I’m glad it won for actress and film. (But I didn’t see the other nominated movies)
Yes, there’s some controversy about this novel is plagiarised from Keigo Higashino’s famous works.
It was adapted from a novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty; as stated by the comment above.
Better Days was a beautiful movie but this kind of story is so frustrating to watch because of all this injustice.
The actors were really great.