The material in this article comes from the Internet, if it is inconsistent with the actual situation or there is infringement, please contact to delete.
This year's Hong Kong film market can be described as extremely active, especially the performance of Hong Kong films is remarkable. Among them, "Poisonous Tongue Lawyer" became a highlight, only 43 days after its release, the box office has exceeded 110 million Hong Kong dollars, ranking ninth in the box office list of Chinese and Western films in Hong Kong history. This result is compared with the Hong Kong box office champion "Avengers 4" of 221 million Hong Kong dollars, although there is a gap, but it is enough to amaze. At the same time, another popular film, "The Corridor of Justice", led the Academy Awards with 16 nominations, which can be described as extremely popular. Interestingly, both films fall into the legal film category, with wonderful scenes in the courtroom in the spotlight. However, it is worth noting that in Chinese mainland, such legal films are almost blank, and the law and courtroom are usually only used as a background for the characters' ends, and even the picture does not need to appear, only simple subtitles or narration. In contrast, Hong Kong films have always nurtured the special genre of legal films with their unique legal system and the intersection of Chinese and Western cultures. So, why even in different legal contexts, Hong Kong legal films can still touch the hearts of the audience, it is worth our in-depth consideration.
Grass root undertone
First, let's consider why legal films in Hong Kong films are called "blockbusters". The term is of Cantonese origin and originally referred to a Qing dynasty teacher who specialized in helping people fight lawsuits. However, in the seventies, Shaw Film Company released a comedy about Chen Mengji, one of the four great masters of Guangdong, and the term was widely adopted. Chen Mengji is a clever and witty lawyer whose mother is a street prostitute who was left in an orphanage to grow up but still supports his study abroad under the name of "Uncle Anonymous". The story vividly reflects the people's perception of the masters, who are wise but often regarded as inferior by the scholars. In addition, some teachers even seek refuge in the upper class, and sometimes help the upper society to oppress the people at the bottom, which further arouses popular discontent.
British writers once scoffed: "There are no lawyers in China, but there are lawyers; There are no criminal cases, including investigators, but there are subordinates. Advocate is like a fly, subordinate like a wolf. Where flies fly, even good meat goes bad; Where wolves appear, domestic animals have nowhere to hide! This view is a direct reference to Fang Tangjing in the movie "Nine Pins Sesame Official". This view highlights the unpopularity of the teacher. Therefore, when Hong Kong films began to dabble in the legal theme, they inherited this background, portraying the image of lawyers as a force against injustice, confronting traditional laws and institutions, and embodying a modern chivalrous spirit.
Officialdom culture
However, over time, the subject matter of legal films gradually became obsolete, and they began to focus on the modern rule of law and the spirit of contract. This is also related to the social changes in Hong Kong since its return to China in 1997, the abuse of public power has been corrected to a certain extent, and official corruption has been curbed to a certain extent. As a result, the previous emphasis on human feelings and common sense has gradually diminished, especially since the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and abuses of public power have become no longer widespread. At the same time, however, costume legal films began to emerge, focusing on the people behind the enforcement system and whether the safeguards of the system itself were really effective.
A typical example is "Dead Grass", which tells the story of a wrongful conviction during the colonial period, created by the overseas elite. The film highlights Hong Kong's special judicial soil, which blends English law and the Great Qing Dynasty, and the two rules sometimes conflict. In this complex legal environment, Chinese can only rely on twisting and flexibility to find a gray area of survival. However, this strip also has its horrors, as it is often uncertain and chaotic, which can lead to unjust results. "Extralegal Affair" tells us with touching mother-son stories that behind the law is human love, and human love can save justice. These films have always emphasized the law
04
A gray area of the law
To understand why Hong Kong's legal films continue to focus on grassroots stories under the law, we need to dig deeper into Hong Kong's own legal and social context.
Integration of rule of law and culture
Hong Kong's legal system originated in the UK, but it has incorporated its own characteristics into the unique cultural background of China. This mix of legal systems reflects Hong Kong's own multicultural and historical history. This integration of rule of law and culture has created a special atmosphere for Hong Kong legal films.
In Chinese mainland, the law has always been regarded as an authority, an unquestionable system of rules. However, there are more grey areas hidden behind the rule of law in Hong Kong. These strips are a source of inspiration for Hong Kong legal films, as they offer many dramatic plots and opportunities to defy the rules. In this unique legal system, the application and enforcement of the law is not always so clear, leaving many loopholes that lawyers, prosecutors and defenders can exploit.
Social class and inequality
Unlike Chinese mainland, Hong Kong society is more diverse, but it is also accompanied by obvious social class differentiation. This inequality is often the focus of Hong Kong legal films. The protagonists in the film are usually grassroots at the bottom of society, and they face pressure and unfair treatment from the upper echelons of society. This plot setup allows the audience to empathize with it, as social inequity is a problem that exists all over the world.
At the same time, Hong Kong legal films also convey a message of hope by showing the tenacity and courage of people at the bottom of society. These characters usually have a strong sense of justice and are willing to fight for the fairness and justice of themselves and society. They may not have social power, but they have strong beliefs that allow them to challenge the reality of injustice.
Reflection on Law and Society
Hong Kong's rule of law system is not perfect, and as elsewhere, it has its problems and flaws. However, Hong Kong legal films do not try to completely attack the law itself, but pay more attention to the social reality behind the law. This approach makes these films more engaging because they are not just legal stories, but also deep reflections about human nature, morality, and society.
Because of this, Hong Kong legal films have won widespread acclaim and audience love around the world. They not only provide wonderful dramatic plots, but also trigger deep reflection on social fairness and justice in the audience. This is the charm of legal films, they are not only entertainment, but also a medium to guide people's thinking.
05
Outlook for the future
Despite the great success of Hong Kong legal films over the past few decades, they also face new challenges and opportunities. As the social and political environment in Hong Kong changes, the creation of legal films may be affected.
Political pressure and censorship
In recent years, Hong Kong has seen a series of political changes and social protests, leading to heightened political tensions. This political pressure may affect the content and creative freedom of legal films. The government's potential to censor and restrict films that touch on sensitive political issues makes legal film creators even more challenging.
International cooperation and innovation
However, Hong Kong Legality also has the opportunity to address these challenges through international cooperation and innovation. Cooperation with film production companies in other countries can provide a broader market and resources for Hong Kong legal films. In addition, creators can explore new ways and themes to adapt to changing society and audience needs.
Continue to provoke food for thought and discussion
No matter how challenging it is, the core mission of Hong Kong legal films is always to provoke the audience's thinking and discussion. By delving into the complexities of law, society, and human nature, they inspire audiences to pursue fairness and justice. This influence will continue to live on and will continue to shape the future of Hong Kong legal films.
conclusion
Hong Kong legal films stand out for their unique rule of law background, social reflection and profound character portrayal. Despite the challenges, they remain an important part of the international film scene, providing audiences with productions that are both entertaining and reflective. Hong Kong legal films not only
The above content and materials are derived from the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or allude to any real country, political system, organization, race, individual. The above does not mean that the author of this article endorses the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any problems arising above or related to the above and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability. Due to the rules of the platform, you will only be recognized as a fan if you have more interaction with me. If you like my article, you can click "Follow", and you can receive the article push as soon as you become an iron fan. This article is only published in today's headlines, please do not move.