Night and Fog is an absorbing tale of a mainland Chinese woman’s experiences in Hong Kong’s Tin Shui Wai, or ‘City of Sadness’, housing complex. Following reports of her death, a number of people who had come into contact with her, recollect events in her life when questioned by the police. The film hinges on two extraordinary performances from Jingchu Zhang (Rush Hour 3, Protégé) and Simon Yam (Election 1 & 2).
Night and Fog opened this year’s Hong Kong International Film Festival and looks set to become one of the most critically acclaimed films of Ann Hui’s varied career.
Showing as part of the Visible Secret: The 21st Century Films of Ann Hui strand, showcasing the recent work of this inspirational woman filmmaker.
Review
“Domestic violence gets a compelling once-over in Hong Kong vet Ann Hui’s Night and Fog, which rises above its low-budget limitations on the basis of its hot-button topic and stellar performances.” Russell Edwards, Variety
“In Ann Hui’s most recent feature Night and Fog, she returns to Hong Kong’s infamous ‘City of Sadness’ estate, Tin Shui Wai. The film is a bleak account of a true life murder of a Chinese immigrant and her two children by her estranged Hong Kong husband. Zhang Jingchu plays the embattled and battered wife, Hui-Ling trying to keep her family together from her feckless and increasingly violent husband, Lee Sum, played by Simon Yam. The film is book-ended by the murders and as the narrative unfolds, we see the build up to the bloody denouement in flash back that criss-crosses time and mood. We witness the violent arguments about money, unemployment and losing face as well as tender moments of courtship and love between the couple.
The film addresses Hui’s constant themes of immigration, dislocation and exile as the story moves from Hong Kong to Sichuan and Shenzhen. But it also addresses family violence as we witness Hui-Ling’s death while her friends from the women’s shelter protest the issue.
This in no way implies that we are watching a sermon, but rather a multi-layered tale of family breakdown by a director at the height of her powers. It is constantly engaging and watchable, as well as a prize in the Cornerhouse’s flagship Visible Secrets festival of Hong Kong Women Filmmakers. The screening on Friday 23rd October 8:20pm is the European premiere and is well worth attending.” Robert Hamilton, Senior Lecturer in Film, MMU