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.