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24 / Lifestyle

“I see a community composed of people
with a shared identity, in front of me,” says Lee.
“Community screenings bring protesters in the
streets into our daily lives. It is another form of
‘action elevation’ that sets aside the rather con-
fronting and intense atmosphere, “she adds.

I see a community

composed of people with
a shared identity,

in front of me.

“Blossom Everywhere”
The culture of public screenings has rooted
in Hong Kong. “Blossom Everywhere Screen-
ings (遍地開放映會)”, a joint-district screening
activity initiated by a Telegram group, calls on
volunteers to organise screening sessions of
designated movies in districts they live, has be-
come the rage during the anti-ELAB movement.
The screening of “Winter on Fire”, a docu-
mentary on Ukraine’s fight for freedom, was
held on 29 August and “1987: When the Day
Comes”, a Korean film about the country’s fight
for human rights and democracy, was held on
24 September. Both of the movies drew huge
crowds with public scrennings held more than
30 venues across the city at the same time.
William Shek and Leticia Wong Man-huen,
newly elected District Councillors, co-organised
one of the “1987: When the Day Comes” screen-
ing sessions in City One Shatin after they joined
the “Blossom Everywhere Screenings” Telegram
Previous screenings held by HK Community Cinema group. Before screening the movie, they also live
(Photo courtesy of Cheung) streamed “Citizens Press Conference (民間記者
She thinks that what makes com- 會)”, a news briefing organised by participants of
munity screenings special is organis- the anti-ELAB protests. They think that the Korean movie
ers having more flexibility that allows can serve as an important reference for Hong Kong as his-
them to make timely choices. They tory often repeats itself.
can screen movies relating to a partic- While Shek and Wong could not book an indoor
ular ongoing social movement or po- venue for screening, they managed to show the film in a
litical situation at the moment and an- corner of a public area next to City One MTR
nounce screening time on Facebook. Leticia Wong station where everyone can stop by and
Align to what she expected before Man-huen join, with a portable screen and projec-
going to the “A Taxi Driver” screen- tor borrowed from their friends.
ing, Lee met people who have partici- Despite the rather simple settings, the screening at-
pated in the anti-ELAB movement at tracted audience of all ages and most of them were nearby
the screening. She believes people are residents who joined the event after school or after work.
connected as they all can relate to the Some residents even brought their own foldable chairs and
movie. came with their family members. William Shek