A way out of the gloom

Romantic comedies lead
local market

Local production The Death Curse employs local popular
groups Twins and Boy'z to attract young audiences. (Cindy Pat)

By Cindy Pat

Romantic comedies are stories that emphasize obvious jokes running along with a touching love story. They dominate Hong Kong’s movie sector.

Examples include the Love Undercover series, Love for All Seasons, Love on a Diet, and Why Me, Sweetie. Each of these films grossed over $25 million at the box office.

Lam Kee To, a Hong Kong movie critic, said, “For a long time now, the selling points of traditional Hong Kong films have been pop idols and a plain story line. The main function of these films is to provide pure entertainment.”

Giving an example, Mr. Lam said, “Heroic Duo is a very high quality production. It has a big cast, big investments and an exciting story line.

“However, its box office sales were only two-thirds of that of Love Undercover II: Love Mission. It shows that the public does not favor this type of movie. It lacks pop stars and has deep meanings, which audiences find hard to comprehend.”

Teenagers are the fire that keep romance comedies hot.

Said Anthony Fung, an assistant professor teaching popular culture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong: “In Hong Kong, people over 30 do not like to go to the cinema. The active audience is people from 15 to 25.”

He added, “The top priority in life of teenagers today is to hang around with friends. The cinema serves as a place for social gatherings and entertainment. This makes teenagers the prime audience of local movies.”

He said that teenagers love romance. To attract teenagers, filmmakers focus on love stories between young characters who are often played by popular local singers.

Romantic comedies are often criticized as being meaningless.

“This is inevitable. Teenagers go to the cinema for relaxation, not to receive education. So they often find movies with deep meaning too heavy,” said Prof. Fung.

The gloomy attitudes of local people are another factor that makes romantic comedies popular.

Prof. Fung said, “The economic conditions are bad, and the level of discontent among citizens is high in society. People grumble just about everything.”

If local movies were also about anger and social opposition, all of society would be immersed in sad feelings.

“Romantic comedies provide a way out.”

Stella Li, a 20-year-old student, goes to cinemas at least twice a month. She is a typical example of Prof. Fung’s portrayal of the audience.

Ms. Li said, “A good movie is one that can make me laugh nonstop. My favorites are the Love Undercover series and Dry Wood Fierce Fire.

“I love comedies because I believe happiness is a basic need of everyone.”

Perry Yip, 22, an office worker, is another young person who loves romantic comedies.

Mr. Yip said, “When you are watching them, you do not have to use your brain. This is just what I want to get from them — a time for me to stop thinking.

“We have enormous pressures in life and I think the purpose of entertainment is to relieve you from stress. Nothing can do the job better than romantic comedies.”

The romantic comedy Love Undercover II: Love Mission
provides time for the audience to laugh and stop thinking.
(Cindy Pat)

Hong Kong-China films on the rise

By Cindy Pat

Films co-produced by Hong Kong and mainland production teams are likely to rise in the local market, said Lam Kee To, a Hong Kong movie critic.

“I am afraid this is not a good trend though.

“It seems that the market is bigger, but in fact the flow of ideas is much restricted,” said Mr. Lam.

Although the general characteristics of mainstream Hong Kong films are retained in these co-produced films, the content has to be altered to suit mainland laws.

He said that laws regarding the production and importation of films in China have in fact been amended. But this does not necessarily mean that they are more lenient.

For example, movies that involve ghosts and negative portrayals of government officials are prohibited in China.

“In the past, mainland movies were very different from Hong Kong movies. Now it seems that they will eventually merge.”

Co-produced films are becoming more popular because mainland producers have become more aware of potential profits from the cinema industry.

“About 5 years ago, filmmaking was a minor industry in China. Producers did not value the market very much, but now they have discovered the business opportunities that lie beneath,” said Mr. Lam.

A large audience size is another advantage of joint production.

“People in China have always anticipated life in Hong Kong. They like Hong Kong culture and enjoy seeing it in movies.”

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