The winners of the 31st “Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards” were recently announced. From 46 local films, awards were voted for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor and Actress, while also recommending the Top 10 Films of the Year! The only local film competing in the Tokyo International Film Festival, “Dad,” emerged as the big winner with three prestigious awards!
Best Director: Wong Tsaikong (“Daddy”)
Directed by Yung Chi-Kwong and starring Lau Ching-Wan and Gigi Leung, “Father” has achieved further success after previously winning at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival, the 21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, and the 18th Asian Film Awards. It has now swept three awards at this year’s “Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards,” including “Best Director,” “Best Actor,” and “Recommended Film of the Year,” achieving remarkable results!
The reason for director Ng Chih-Kuang winning the “Best Director” award is summarized as follows: “Abandoning the sensational gaze often found in crime films, he delicately delves into his father’s psychological realm, internalizing heavy emotions. With clever editing, he frequently weaves flashbacks into the present tense, connecting fragmented sweet memories with the painful realities of the moment in a nonlinear narrative. Like a ferryman, Ng Chih-Kuang soothes his father’s soul amidst the oscillation, probing into a family that has momentarily fallen apart, showcasing how love can heal, thus resonating with the emotional needs of Hong Kong audiences in the post-traumatic era.”
Best Actor: Lau Ching-Wan (“Daddy”)
“Father” not only won the “Film of the Year” and “Best Director,” but the Best Actor award also went to Liu Qingyun for his portrayal of the father, Ruan Yongnian. Facing his son Houming, who killed his mother and sister due to schizophrenia, Liu Qingyun bears the pain of losing his loved ones alone, delicately showcasing the struggles and sorrow in a father’s heart, allowing the audience to deeply experience this indescribable anguish.
Since its release, the film has been widely regarded by audiences as “Anthony Lau’s best performance to date,” which has led him to be nominated for “Best Actor” at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Asian Film Awards. This marks the fifth time he has received the “Best Actor” award from the Film Critics Society, following his roles in “High Alert,” “The Perfect Bra,” “The Last Tycoon,” and “Overheard 3.”
Best Film: “The Siege of Kowloon Walled City”
Directed by Zheng Baorui, the film “Kowloon Walled City Siege” stars Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Sammo Hung, Liu Junqian, Hu Zitong, Zhang Wenjie, and Ng Yoon-Long, and has boldly won the “Best Film” award, defeating another favorite, “Daddy”!
“‘The Siege of Kowloon Walled City’ has set numerous new records, having been nominated for the ‘Midnight Screenings’ section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last year, marking the return of Hong Kong films to this prestigious event after 11 years. Director Cheng Po- Chun also won the ‘Best Director Award’ at the 57th Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival in Spain for this film!”
The award-winning reason summarizes as follows: “Zheng Baoru expertly balances personal style with the essence of Hong Kong action films, infusing the visuals with the authentic colors of Hong Kong comic culture, appealing to both refined and popular tastes, evoking resonance. The film’s art design plays a significant role in reconstructing the disappearing landscapes of collective memory, with imagery of a besieged city directly pointing to Hong Kong, showcasing a united effort to defend their home. Both the main and supporting characters are compelling and fully engaged in their performances, embodying a masculine spirit, and under the direction of the filmmaker and martial arts supervisor, the fight scenes are a dazzling display of skill.”
Best Actress: Tan Shanyan (“Tiger’s Poison”)
Starring Tan Shanyan and Lu Zhenye, “Tiger’s Poison” is the second directorial work of Chen Xiaojun, known for “Lost Soul.” Following its selection at the Busan International Film Festival and garnering acclaim at the Tokyo International Film Festival, it became the first Hong Kong film chosen for the “Women Empowerment Section.” It also won the 2024 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival’s “NETPAC Award.” Recently, Tan Shanyan received exciting news, claiming her first Best Actress award for her role as the novice mother “Shuzheng” at this year’s Critics Association Awards!
The reason for the award succinctly states that “The portrayal of Shuzheng as a new mother not only involved weight gain in terms of physical appearance but also showcased the delicate expression of pain, both bodily and emotional. The interaction with her husband is vibrant, and the long single-shot monologue in front of the nanny reveals a blend of complex emotions, reflecting a mixture of joy and sorrow, worry and exhaustion, conveyed through her gaze and tone. In the face of parenting pressures and conservative notions of gender roles, she transitions from quiet disappointment to utter despair, gradually falling into depression amidst the sounds of a crying baby. This role, which is difficult to portray, is imbued with a strong emotional resonance.”
Best Screenplay: Chen Weilin, Mai Qiguang, Wan Yuancheng (“The Temporary Heist”)
Chen Wei-bin, Mai Qi-guang, and Wan Yuan-cheng won the “Best Screenplay” award for “The Temporary Heist,” successfully defeating strong competitors like “The Romance I Talked About” and “From Now On”!
The highly praised “The Temporary Heist” features a stellar cast led by Aaron Kwok, Lin Jiadong, Richie Ren, and Charmaine Sheh. It was filmed entirely in Hong Kong, with the government facilitating a seven-day shoot in a closed-off Temple Street, showcasing plenty of action-packed gunfire scenes—a long-awaited return of a quintessential Hong Kong film!
The summary of the award reason is: “‘You rob me, I rob you,’ with power and money shifting direction, creating a chain of relationships that are interconnected, nuanced yet not chaotic. By amplifying the characters’ quirks and memorable dialogues into popular sayings, the key lies in character design first, rather than being driven by themes or social issues, followed by a continuous wave of chaotic interactions, delivering a thrilling experience filled with both joy and sorrow, resonating with the audience. The structure, dialogue, and character development all align perfectly.”
In addition, the ten recommended films include: “The Temporary Heist,” “The Land of Ten Directions,” “Hong Kong’s Four Tracks,” “See How I Speak Today,” “From Now On,” “The Love I Talked About,” “Daddy,” “Winter Future,” “Break Hell,” and “Mr. Spoiled.”
