It’s a dream factory but they call it Chinawood, the nickname given to Hengdian World Studios, presented as the largest in the world. People travel to the south-west from all over China hoping to make their name and fortune, but often they merely swell the huge number of anonymous folk, extras and interchangeable workers. For two years, Derek Yee conducted his research, holding numerous interviews in and around the studios to collect stories and see who would end up as the characters in his film, fully assuming the fact that he would have to compose with the limits of these apprentice actors and actresses. And it’s at that point, when the character catches up with its performer that Yee’s approach finds its most salient regime of truth. JB
SCREENINGS
KATORZA
SAM 16 > 10h, in the presence of Clarence Tsui, journalist, critic in Hong Kong and co-programmer of the Derek Yee retrospective.
LUN 18 > 20h, in the presence of Clarence Tsui.
