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An overwhelming response to the retrospective "Li Han-hsiang, Storyteller" at the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA), has resulted in eight extra screenings of the director's works.
An additional screening of "Lady in Distress" (1957) will be shown at noon on May 12, "The Empress Dowager" (1975) at 7pm on May 19 and "The Kingdom and the Beauty" (1959) at noon on May 20. On June 2, "Empress Wu Tse-tien" (1963) will be shown at 2pm and "Hsi Shih: Beauty of Beauties" (1965) at 5pm. Three additional screenings will be shown on June 3: "The Love Eterne" (1963) at noon, "The Winter" (1969) at 2.30pm and "Golden Lotus" (1974) at 5.30pm. All films will be screened at the Cinema of the Film Archive.
Thirty-five titles entailing the many different phases of the director have been shown in the retrospective. Many of the screenings are already sold out. Limited tickets for "Rear Entrance" (1960), "Lady in the Tower" (1967), "Flower Drums of Fung Yang" (1967), "At Dawn" (1969), "Four Moods" (1970), "Black Bull and White Snake" (1970), "The Legends of Cheating" (1971), "Scandal" (1973), "Sinful Confession" (1974) and "The Last Emperor" (1986) are still available.
Li was one of the most important figures in the history of Hong Kong cinema. He was active in the film industry for almost 50 years, and excelled in a wide variety of genres including historical epics, sumptuous regional opera films, delightful tales about cheating and witty light comedies.
To complement the screenings, an exhibition is being held at the Exhibition Hall of the HKFA. The exhibits include lingerie worn by star Hu Chin in the film "Golden Lotus", costume worn by Linda Lin Dai in "The Kingdom and the Beauty", a water colour painting by director Li, reconstructed film sets, prop jewellery and accessories, artifacts and oral-history interviews with the director's friends and colleagues. Admission is free.
A new publication "Li Han-hsiang, Storyteller" is also being published. In separate Chinese and English editions, the book re-evaluates the director's rich and versatile career. It comprises essays from writers such as Michael Lam, Yau Ching, Zhao Weifang, Po Fung, Sam Ho and Yeh Yueh-yu, and oral history interviews with his daughter Lee Yen-ping and Margaret Li, former collaborators including co-workers Zhu Mu and Song Chuen-sau.
Tickets priced at $30 for all screenings are available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Reservations can be made by phone on 2734 9009, credit card booking on 2111 5999 or on the internet at www.urbtix.hk.
For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900 or browse the websites: www.filmarchive.gov.hk or www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp.
Ends/Friday, April 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:56
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