HKIFF‧Day 1‧Disrespect

today (18 mar) is the first day of the 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival. despite all the administrative drawbacks on ticket booking, i am still very excited for the event. can't wait to watch all the films i chose for this year.

starting by watching 3 films today, including the so-called opening film "Kabei - Our Mother"(2008). the screening is at 1745, when i arrived in the theatre at almost just before it starts, i am at first surprised to see so many vacant seats. then soon i look at my watch and rethink - if i have to go to work today, what is the chance to come at such a time? 0.01.

the film "Kabei" by Yoji Yamada is real great, definitely a masterpiece. (even a fan of Takuya Kimura like me,) i would say it is better than "Love and Honor". it is a beautiful film, all of the characters posses a tender and loving heart. audience were deeply touched and sobbing sounds could be heard when the film coming to its end.

but something terrible happened at such magic moment.

when credits started to roll slowly from bottom, on the left half of the screen, suddenly the background music/sounds of the film gone muted, and then a recorded voiceover announcement was played out loudly instead. at the same time, we noticed english subtitles keep rolling on the right bottom of the screen, as how it goes in the previous 130 mins, together with some beautiful scenes flashbacks coming up one after one. just after a few seconds, audience came to know: the film is not yet ended!!!

the VO repeated for 3 times, seemingly not going to stop, until a friend of mine shouted out at the top of his voice, “Shut up! It’s enough!” then it silenced.

pitifully, it is too late, damage is done. the VO covered the voice PROBABLY of Yama san reading his last letter written to Ka-bei, Hatsu-bei and Teru-bei ENTIRELY. i said probably because no one inside the theatre actually heard what he said and no one could be sure if it is him or other character (the husband could also be a good guess?).

it is very very very very much disappointing. it is so miserable to have such a superb film left unfinished.

and I (and i believe all the audience too,) don’t see any reasons the VO has to be played at that specific moment. the VO tells guests where to go for the grand opening ceremony commencing almost an hour later, and tells audience how to leave the hall using the backdoor exit. nothing urgent.

frankly i think the VO is STUPID. the guests must have been notified of the arrangements prior to the show by PR staff right? the audience would follow the flow to exit the hall right? and even if one or two goes to the wrong exit, the many staff hanging around must be able to show them the way out right? so the VO is completely pointless. and, such pointless VO had been played several times before the screening already.

so it is simply a disrespect to the film, director, actors, everyone involved in the production,... and the audience.

the anger swept away the blissful feelings in my heart while i walking towards the backdoor exit leaving the hall. i feel so ashamed of such an INTERNATIONAL event which “screen almost 300 films from more than 50 countries in 21 days, with more than 85,000 tickets sold.”

if i were the director, i would not let my future films show in this ridiculous film festival.


and, one more query in mind - there were more than 100 seats reserved for VIPs with name labels sticked on the seat, but it was not even 1/3 occupied. where were they? it is certainly normal to send out many many invitation cards for a GRAND opening, but isn't there something called RSVP? or did all those VIPs decide not to come at the very last moment?


it is not to blame anyone anymore. i just hope the lessons would be learnt. and,
from tomorrow on, i hope i can enjoy all the beautiful moments to the utmost with no other interference.


for a clearer picture and others’ feelings, please read also:
香港仔公國︰多謝晒電影節開幕電影
講‧鏟‧片︰電影節低能錯誤豈能接二連三？
Iserlohn︰母親
良事典︰《Kabei-Our Mother》後感
一團和戲︰不知所謂的３２屆香港國際電影節