The film industry in 2023 is turbulent, let's travel through the time and space of the big screen together to reveal the changes in Hong Kong films. This year, Hong Kong's local films have been impressive, and a series of films have braved the box office winter, let us taste the stories one by one.
10, "To Nineteen-Year-Old Me", box office 10.29 million Hong Kong dollars
The documentary on the relocation of the school building was originally intended to document the changes in the campus. However, the filming of this film has caused an ethical storm. Intimate footage of the students was filmed without consent, leading to controversy after the film was released. This incident has caused a deep reflection on the ethics of documentaries, whether the privacy of students is more important or the work itself is more important, which has become a social discussion that has attracted much attention.
09, "When the Wind Rises Again", box office 11.21 million Hong Kong dollars
Hong Kong films have always been known for their heroic films, however, "When the Wind Rises Again" tries to go out of the traditional genre and integrate the decades of history of Hong Kong into the film. The director's innovative intentions are evident, and the art scenes and shots are excellent. However, the narrative confusion makes the film a bit different in the end. This makes us wonder what kind of innovation is needed for the film to truly challenge the audience's perception.
08, "Murder", box office 11.69 million Hong Kong dollars
With the galactic image temperament as the selling point, "Murder" cleverly integrates murder and numerology, and injects the theme of changing one's life against the sky. Lin Jiadong's performance is once again eye-catching, as a god stick, he uses various feng shui techniques and Chinese and Western metaphysics to help change the fate of a delivery man. This film successfully presents fatalism with a new perspective and makes the audience think more deeply about life.
07, "Don't Call Me "God of Gamblers"", box office 12.99 million Hong Kong dollars
"Don't Call Me "God of Gamblers", which has changed its title many times, seems cliché in terms of story, but through the story of a bad gambling father and an autistic son, people feel the warmth of mutual redemption. Chow Yun-fat's performance may be a little exaggerated, but Liao Qizhi's acting skills have become the biggest highlight. The name of this film may become more and more complex, but the emotional resonance behind it is the most earthy.
06, "Anti-Drug 3: The End of the World", box office 13.98 million Hong Kong dollars
After ten years of anti-drug IP, the third part continues the old routine of undercover police detectives and drug lords in the Golden Triangle. Shootouts and explosions are still hot, but this time it seems that the audience has higher requirements for the plot. The film failed to present new highlights to the audience, which may also be the bottleneck of this IP.
05, "Under the Super Nervous Machinery Robbery", box office 16.15 million Hong Kong dollars
A localized adaptation of a Korean film, despite its efforts to inject Hong Kong elements, it was eventually reduced to four dissimilarities. The director's efforts can be seen, but he failed to get the details right. The film was clearly a failed remake, and the localization of Hong Kong did not follow the path of success.
04, "Under the White Sun", box office 21.05 million Hong Kong dollars (in theaters)
Louis Koo has been running around again and again to find investors, and finally this film based on a true story has come out. The film deals with social issues, which makes people think more deeply about truth and justice after watching the movie. The outstanding performances of the actors, especially the roles of Yu Xiangning, Jiang David and others, make this film a highly anticipated masterpiece.
03, "Youth Diary", box office 21.63 million Hong Kong dollars (in theaters)
With an investment of only 3.25 million Hong Kong dollars, "Youth Diary", written and directed by Zhuo Yiqian, pays attention to the structure of the script, and connects two time and space through a diary. This film is not deliberately sensational, but it uses a detailed depiction to show the harm of family disharmony. In the film, the audience feels deep thinking about the family and the responsibility for the growth of children.
02, "Forty-Four When the Dead Body", box office 22.69 million Hong Kong dollars
A black comedy film directed by Ho Juetian, director of "The Corridor of Justice". The film revolves around a nameless naked corpse, but satirizes Hong Kong's property market through the stories of each household. Although the story uses the corpse as an introduction, it also tells the trivial matters of each family. Security guard Lee Sang-jeong's performance became the biggest highlight, his appearance was not only hilarious, but also brought out the film's mockery of social reality.
01、《毒舌大状》，票房1.15亿港币
When it was released in the mainland, it was renamed "The Bad Tongue Lawyer", which exceeded 100 million box office in one fell swoop, breaking the market monopoly of Western films. The success of this film lies first of all in the coolness of the story. The fierce counterattack in the court made this film a modern version of "Jiupin Sesame Official". The actors' performances are indispensable, especially Huang Zihua's poisonous tongue style, which makes the audience excited. The success of this film has injected new vitality into Hong Kong films and has become a well-deserved box office dark horse.
Each of the above Hong Kong films is the crystallization of the hard work of the directors and actors. Each frame carries countless painstaking efforts and sweat to shine on the screen. Movies are our window into the world, and through these works, we seem to see deeper human nature, social problems, and family strife. Looking forward to the future, I look forward to more excellent Hong Kong films going to the world and continuing to present us with more wonderful stories. In the sea of films, each work is a unique pearl, shining brightly, waiting for us to discover.