As with most film awards, the brilliance of the Academy Awards is not in the present, but in the past.
Hong Kong films in 2022 are the year of new directors shining. Whether it is the hotly discussed "Justice Corridor" in the city, or the touching "Narrow Road Dust", it is not only destined to be the big hit of this year's Academy Awards, but also a representative film with outstanding achievements throughout last year.
Although "The Corridor of Justice" and "Narrow Road Dust" are fighting as hot as "Yu Liang" at this time, in fact, this year's Academy Awards also has three films directed by emerging directors, and they have become the "dark horses" of the strength to compete for various awards.
For example, "Falling Flowers and Flowing Water" starring Zheng Xiuwen, such as "Lights and Lights" starring Zhang Aijia, and "XX Youth" starring "Man surnamed Huang".
No matter from any point of view, these three films directed by three emerging directors are like a side dish for the Academy Awards. Not only is it not as popular as "The Corridor of Justice", even compared to commercial films such as "Tomorrow's War", it seems to be somewhat uncompetitive. However, the author believes that these three films, which also use Hong Kong as the background of the story, have very similar things in common. That is the gathering and dispersion, that is, the bottom thinking and helplessness of Hong Kong people at present.
"Flowing Water and Flowers": Everyone is a passerby
From the perspective of story content and era background, Zheng Xiuwen's "Flowing Water and Falling Flowers" is the most universal of the three films.
"A mother lost her son and filled the void in her heart by fostering her child", such a story can be said to be true everywhere.
Even if it is not in Hong Kong, even if it is not to take in foster children, in any corner of the world, any woman can make such a decision, even if it is not to take in foster children.
Zheng Xiuwen in "Flowing Water and Flowers" is doing the same thing year after year: taking care of foster children who have lost both parents.
For this reason, she has little other life, and even going out is considered a luxury, not to mention that going to a place like Tuen Mun is as difficult as an expedition for her.
"Flowing Water and Falling Flowers" uses a moderate and implicit expression to show the audience the process of Zheng Xiuwen's slow aging in the film.
This is a change without a trace, neither noticeable gray hair, nor eye-catching old makeup. Everything happens naturally and unconsciously.
In this story, the director fully explains that "human fate is like flowing water". No matter how deep the relationship between each other, they only met briefly in the long journey of life.
When we recognize that there are no people who are scattered, maybe as long as we cherish the people in front of us, maybe we should not be overly entangled with those people and things that have long passed away.
Just like the big dog that finally froze in accompanying the male owner, what else can accompany him in the end? Is it people? Is it a thing? Is it a thing? Or an image that has long been blurred? Perhaps this is the message that "Flowing Waters" wants to convey to us.
"The Lights of the Lights": Elders should also grow up with the times
Different from the gathering and dispersion of "Flowing Water and Falling Flowers", "Lights and Lights" starring Zhang Aijia focuses on the changes of the times.
Although any story or movie can be said to tell the passage of time, "The Lights of the Light" cleverly shows the end of an era through a technique that is almost disappearing. And in a straightforward way, it tells us that no matter how hard you try, those who should disappear cannot be retained after all.
Compared with "Flowing Water and Flowers" and another work, the story of "Lights and Lights" is relatively weak. Because he covered too much content, the story content was too complex and complicated.
Although there are traditional crafts, family, love, affection in "The Lights", and even some of the construction and rise and fall of the city of Hong Kong.
But greedy and chewy is the most reasonable saying, and "Lights and Lights" has also appeared many ambiguous characters and lack of persuasiveness in character. But "The Lights" is still a movie with connotations, which is still worth watching and pondering.
This is a story about the growth of elders.
An old woman who should have enjoyed the rest of her life, in the last moment of her life, took over her husband's hard work and perseverance, and only hoped to fulfill her husband's last wish.
Zhang Aijia in "The Lights of the Lights" finally understood a truth. Children always return to their own lives and lives, and the husband who has hurt her all his life may have another concern in his heart.
What makes the human body feel more poignant is that the neon lights that were once thousands of graces will eventually be replaced by LED lights.
When Zhang Aijia gathered the strength of everyone and miraculously made this incomparably complex neon signboard. But only one night bright, when the next light comes on, this miracle will no longer exist.
"The Lights" tells a story that is both open-minded and inspirational. As an apprentice whose skills are far inferior to the master, he has long been unable to rely on making neon signs to support himself. He needs to rely on another job with no future to support himself and maintain his craft and ideals. But what should disappear will eventually disappear, but this disappearance is too late or early.
Write at the end
It is undeniable that "The Corridor of Justice" has a stronger and more masterful place, whether it is story or artistry.
However, as a local film selection award in Hong Kong, the Academy Awards will undoubtedly take into account these films that tell the history and future of Hong Kong in selecting outstanding works.
Because compared to the topical "Justice Corridor", or the popcorn-filled "Tomorrow's War".
The stories of "Lights and Lights" and "Flowing Water and Flowers" may be more able to move every ordinary Hong Kong person and resonate more with every moviegoer.
As the author previously predicted, although "The Corridor of Justice" will be the biggest winner of this Academy Awards, there will still be Zheng Xiuwen who won the "Best Actress" award with "Flowing Water and Flowers".
If this is true as I predicted, then who can guarantee that the other two films telling the story of Hong Kong will not be favored by the judges and win some other awards?
At least from the two awards of "Best Screenplay" and "New Director", these three "unpopular" films still have a good chance.
(After reading it, remember to pay attention to "Hua Yuhan" Oh, the picture comes from the Internet)