It is during times of crisis that art can become a solace for many. During the recent pandemic, people have searched not only for entertainment and a distraction from the onslaught of bad news, conspiracy theories and newest hot takes on the subject, but also for a narrative which could make sense or provide some kind of solace. For renowned Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui, the poetry she read in school and later on in her life provided this kind of spiritual refuge, as well as the idea for a feature about the authors she admired and their work. “Elegies”, a long planned passion project for Hui, which recently screened at Busan International Film Festival, consists of Hui interviewing these poets and at times even their relatives about their work, their views on topics such as the political and economic state of Hong Kong and, most importantly of all, their opinion on the relevance of the written word for our present.
Elegies is screening at Busan International Film Festival
Hui herself has stated “Elegies” is not a mainstream movie. While the statement could be applied to many of her features too, it certainly rings true considering the subject of her recent project, which many viewers likely won't be familiar with. Names such as Wai Yuen, Huang Can-ran or Liu Wai-tong or even their poems will be new to many audiences, even though you could say it paves the way for getting to know them and why they are so cherished within their culture. This has a lot to do with the simple, yet effective approach of Hui, who is seen in conversation with the authors themselves, which makes her subject more approachable and interesting, considering we hear the background to some of the poems after (or before) hearing them ourselves.
Check also this interview
Sometimes, however, Hui leaves the poems without this background and rather shows various scenes of Hong Kong in order to support or extend the meaning behind the words. These are perhaps the strongest parts of “Elegies” as they emphasize the range of each piece of poetry, including observations of daily life, the chasm between urban and rural life and also the shifting political landscape of Hong Kong, maybe as a result of the protests of the last years. In the end, these words and the meaning they carry will likely be the most lasting aspects of this documentary, especially as the musings of the authors, while certainly entertaining, are somewhat banal and will not provide anything new to people who are diligent readers and have done a little research to some of their favorite authors.
“Elegies” is a documentary about Hong Kong poets, the power of the written word and how the views expressed in a piece of literature can hold a much more interesting and profound truth. For those unfamiliar with Hong Kong literature and eager to learn more about it, Ann Hui's passion project is certainly a very entertaining and approachable foundation into this part of HK culture.
