Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong Cinema

Filmmakers and cinephiles interested in more than a century of Asian cinema can find what they are looking for in this new reference book. Lisa Stokes, a professor of humanities and film who also wrote “City on Fire: Hong Kong Cinema,” includes enough background information to educate newcomers while adding plenty of academic information to enlighten devoted, professional moviegoers. industry and even Hong Kong filmmakers. .

This extensive reference begins with a timeline tracing the history of the area from its 1841 occupation by the British to the 2005 Hong Kong Entertainment Expo, which brought together eight creative events, including the Hong Kong International Film Festival and Awards. of Hong Kong Film. The timeline is followed by a fascinating introduction, highlighting the defining factors of Asian cinema, as well as the economic, social, and political factors that influenced Asian cinema over the years.

The bulk of the book, of course, is the dictionary itself, describing and defining the directors, actors, writers, movies, production companies, genres, and other important people, places, and things that surround this niche market. For example, suppose a reader wants to learn more about filmmaker Stephen Chiau, whose recent film Kung Fu Hustle broke box office records in Hong Kong and enjoyed critical and financial success in the United States. In addition to brief mentions in the theme song, her listing under “Chiau” provides her name in multiple languages, date of birth, personal and professional background, a list of her awards, a partial list of numerous television and film credits, descriptions of his performance/direction. style and insider information on his two big international hits, Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle.

Readers also learn that he is called “The Chinese Jim Carrey” because of his antics and antics. Bold items listed below each dictionary entry (in Stephen Chiau’s case: Tony Leung-wai, Danny Lee, Television, Golden Horse Awards, Michael Hui, Ng Man-tat, Kung Fu, Martial Arts, and Hong Kong Film Awards) represent cross-references with their own listings.

In the center of the book there is a brief section with photographs of films and filmmakers cited in the text. The “Hong Kong Film Historical Dictionary” concludes with a bibliography listing online sources, magazines, newspapers, and books used to compile the text.

Stokes writes in the preface that his aim is to provide “a comprehensive and detailed account of Hong Kong’s immense contribution to film culture”. He is surely successful in this endeavor, as the book will serve fans, filmmakers, and scholars ready to delve into the intricacies and quirks of this unique cinematic style.