Helen's Blog /

One of the most significant Asian "New Wave" film directors, Hong Kong filmaker, Ann Hui, is present this year, at Udine Far East Festival to talk about her beginnings in the cinema industry of that country. Commissioned by the national broadcaster and ICAC, the anti-corruption entity to create a series of shows on various aspects crime prevalent in the 1970's such as bribery of government officials, kickbacks, corruption of innocents and minors etc..the fledgling filmmaker laid the basis for a rich career as director of author's films which portrayordinary people at throes with the complex issues in life.

Basing several of the episodes on true-life cases occuring during 1973-78 corruption cases, which led to the establishòent of ICAC as a body whose investigators scourage individuals involved in corruption, one such story deoucted thefamous case of British police official, Peter Godber, who had accepted millions of dollars in bribes.

In Steakfee, the Kojak-style investigators try to trace proof in construction bribery inorder to convict a kingpin Big-Nose Lam.

According to Ann Hui, the situation has improved considerably from the 70's when corruption was rampant. So one can only assume that her work had a solid impact on the psyche of the population of Hong Kong.

Ann Hui Born in China in 1947, Ann Hui moved to Hong Kong when whe was still in her youth. After graduating in English and Comparative Litereature from Hong Kong University, whe spent two years at London Film School. Returning to Hong Kong, she worked as an assistant to director King Hu before joining TVB to direct drama series and short documentaries. In 1977, she produced and directed six films for the ICAC and in 1978, she made three episodes for the RTHK series, Below the Lion Rock. Shen the made her debut feature film, The Secret, in 1979.