HK Cinema - 1997
Wong Kar-Wai's film Happy Together wins the top
film award at the Cannes Film Festival. Once again though this brings attention
to the fact that the work of Wong Kar-Wai seems to get much more respect
internationally than he does in his homeland of Hong Kong. His wonderfully
stylish films layered with multiple meanings and open to many interpretations
have never been particularly popular with film fans in HK. His most popular
film at the box office was his very first - As Tears Go By - his least
complex film.
His other films have often been disasters at
the box office and the tales of audiences leaving the theater in droves
are legendary. One report even has it that the audience tore down the screen
they were so incensed with the film! Fortunately, he has gained a terrific
reputation outside of HK and is able to still get financing to continue
making films.