‘All a lie’: filmmaker Johnnie To on Hong Kong, censorship in city’s cinema, human greed and the prospects of making Election 3
- In a candid interview, Johnnie To talks about mainland Chinese censors, losing money in the 2008 financial crisis and the burden of hope in Hong Kong
- He reveals his favourite among his movies, the prospects of making another instalment in his epic triad series Election and why films aren’t as good today
Johnnie To Kei-fung presented three films and took part in a master class at this year’s Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. The veteran Hong Kong director has visited the festival several times; in fact, at the first edition in 1999, his A Hero Never Dies won the audience award, the festival’s main award.
“Since it started, I’ve always respected this festival,” To tells the Post. “Right from the start, they brought a lot of Hong Kong films – in fact, Hong Kong films were the major element at first. Later on, they brought more Asian films and new Asian directors to Udine.
“I hope that the festival will keep up with the good work to promote and support cinema, and not be pressured by outside forces. Always remember to keep the spirit.”
To was an affable presence at the festival, sitting for interviews, meeting with fans at lunches, toasting attendees at the annual Hong Kong Film celebration and even leading a karaoke singalong to the Japanese hit Ue o Muite Aruko (Sukiyaki).
To screened three of his films in a series the festival called “Johnnie Without a Gun”: Sparrow (2008), Life Without Principle (2011) and Office (2015). When I praise his 3D musical Office, which was adapted from a stage play written by Sylvia Chang Ai-chia, he seems rather dismissive of the film.
“It was not a success,” he says, and he isn’t just talking about its box-office returns.
