Septet: The Story of Hong Kong

Septet: The Story of Hong Kong (Chinese: 七人樂隊)[1] is a 2020 Hong Kong anthology historical drama film directed by seven filmmakers of the Hong Kong New Wave: Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Woo-ping, Ringo Lam, Johnnie To and Tsui Hark. It is divided into seven stories, each corresponding to a decade in Hong Kong's history, told from the view of ordinary people. It was originally intended for there to be a segment about the 1970s directed by John Woo, but he withdrew for health reasons and the segment was never produced.

Septet: The Story of Hong Kong
Theatrical release poster
Chinese七人樂隊
Directed bySammo Hung
Ann Hui
Patrick Tam
Yuen Woo-ping
Ringo Lam
Johnnie To
Tsui Hark
Screenplay bySammo Hung
Au Kin-yee
Patrick Tam
Yuen Woo-ping
Ringo Lam
Johnnie To
Tsui Hark
Yau Nai-hoi
Roy Szeto
Lou Shiu-wa
Melvin Luk
Story byAu Kin-yee
Yau Nai-hoi
Produced byJohnnie To
Elaine Chu
Starring
CinematographyChan Kin-lei
Tam Wan-kai
Poon Hang-sang
Edited byJimmy Hung
Patrick Tam
Tsui Hark
David M. Richardson
Mary Stephen
Allen Leung
Jeff Cheung
Music byWoody Pak
Li Ye
Thomas Lloyd Freeman
Charlotte Chan
Patrick Tam
Thomas Cheng
Peter Kam
Production
companies
China Film Media Asia Distribution
Milkyway Image
Distributed byMedia Asia Films
Release dates
Running time
113 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
Box office$1.7 million

The film features an ensemble cast that includes Timmy Hung, Francis Ng, Sire Ma, Jennifer Yu, Ian Gouw, Yuen Wah, Ashley Lin, Simon Yam, Mimi Kung, Cheung Tat-ming, Emotion Cheung, Ng Wing-sze, Tony Wu, Eric Tsui, Royce Lam, Chung King-fai, Lam Suet and Lawrence Lau. Production began in early January 2014 and concluded in August 2014.

The film was screened at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2020, and includes the posthumous work of Ringo Lam, who died in 2018.[2][3] The film was originally set to be released in 2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then released in Hong Kong on 28 July 2022 and China on 29 July 2022. The film received mostly positive reviews.[4]

Cast and crew

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Decade Story Director Screenwriter Starring
1950s Exercise Sammo Hung Sammo Hung, Au Kin-yee Timmy Hung
1960s Headmaster Ann Hui Lou Shiu-wa Francis Ng, Sire Ma
1980s Tender Is the Night Patrick Tam Melvin Luk, Patrick Tam Jennifer Yu, Ian Gouw
1990s Homecoming Yuen Woo-ping Yuen Woo-ping, Au Kin-yee Yuen Wah, Ashley Lin
2000s Bonanza Johnnie To Au Kin-yee, Yau Nai-hoi, Johnnie To Ng Wing-sze, Tony Wu, Eric Tsui
2010s Astray Ringo Lam Ringo Lam Simon Yam, Mimi Kung, Royce Lam, Chung King-fai
2020s Conversation in Depth Tsui Hark Tsui Hark, Roy Szeto Cheung Tat-ming, Emotion Cheung, Lam Suet, Lawrence Lau

Awards and nominations

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Ceremony Category Recipient Results
41st Hong Kong Film Awards[5] Best Action Choreography Sammo Hung, Jimmy Hung, Yuen Wo Ping Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "七导演合拍《七人乐队》入围戛纳 杜琪峯发声回应". 新浪娱乐. 2020-06-04. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  2. ^ "【林嶺東逝世】真正遺作《八部半》 夥杜琪峯吳宇森拍出香港情". 香港01. 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  3. ^ Hunter2020-10-21T17:01:00+01:00, Allan. "'Septet: The Story Of Hong Kong': Busan Review (opening film)". Screen. Retrieved 2023-02-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Chor Yu Liu, Justin (2022-08-18). "Review: Omnibus "Septet: the Story of Hong Kong" Shows Seven Masters in Varying Agreement". Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  5. ^ "Nomination List of The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards".
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