A restored 4K version of Tsui Hark's “Shanghai Blues 2024” will be screened in the prestigious Cannes Classics programme at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Set against the backdrop of wartime Shanghai in the 1940's, the film weaves a poignant love story between a soldier, Tung Kwok-Man (Kenny Bee) and a young woman Shu-Shu (Sylvia Chang), who vow to meet after the war ends. Unfortunately, they walk away not able to recognize each other's faces or remember their names. Through a series of misplaced opportunities, the two lovebirds keep missing their reunion, even though fate has a funny way of bringing them ever so closer to each other.
Infused with a delightful blend of innocent romanticism, satirical wit, and whimsical sophistication, “Shanghai Blues” showcased director Tsui Hark as a burgeoning master who could seamlessly fuse different genre's for the screen.
To bring the film back 40 years later, the “Shanghai Blues” has undergone a meticulous digital restoration under the supervision of director Tsui Hark. Besides new grading, the restoration project features new dubbing, with each character speaking in their native dialects – Mandarin, Shanghainese, Cantonese and other from various regions – adding an extra layer of authenticity and depth to the entertaining script.
“Shanghai Blues” holds a special place for Tsui Hark as it marks the first film from his production company, Film Workshop, which he established in 1984 with Nansun Shi. Not only is it the company's firstborn, but it also represents the heyday of Hong Kong cinema and serves as a powerful reminder of their enduring passion for filmmaking and dedication to the art of movies, four decades later.
ABOUT FILM WORKSHOP
Film Workshop was founded in 1984 by Tsui Hark and Nansun Shi in Hong Kong. Already a renowned director and producer with a string of box office hits behind them, Tsui and Nansun wanted to create a workshop where foremost Asian filmmakers could work on films worthy of their artistic merit, and at the same time commercially viable for the films' investors.
Despite being icons of the Chinese cinema for four decades, Tsui and Nansun are still making films back-to-back with their tireless energy.
