What to Watch: Our Favourite Picks From Hong Kong International Film Festival 2022

Finally popping off with an anticipated launch since its postponement from March, the 46th Hong Kong International Film Awards have begun this week, and will run screenings, in addition to filmmaker-led events, across select theatres and venues around the city until the end of the month.

Showcasing the multifaceted range of films made local and internationally, and the themes of the festival, here are our top picks for what to watch from the HKIFF line-up this year. Tickets and details on online screenings are available on the official HKIFF site.

1. ‘Where the Wind Blows’ (Dir. Philip Yung)

Part of the Gala showcase and the festival opener, this sequel to Philip Yung’s bodacious “Port of Call” is a blockbuster-style retelling of Hong Kong history. Following the story of the famed “Four Great Sergeants” of Hong Kong, the film unravels the tensions of an alliance between two detectives and the notorious 1960s triads. The first screening on Aug. 15 boasted a world premiere of the film, where festival ambassador Aaron Kwok joins Tony Leung Chiu-wai on the silver screen for the first time, with supporting act Michael Hui.

2. ‘Lamb’ (Dir. Vladimar Johansson)

Nobody toes the lines between myth and reality, folk tales and the contemporary, like Scandinavian filmmakers. Debuting with this eerie bucolic tale of a couple who adopt a lamb-human hybrid after losing their child, the film sparks a mediation on the relationship between humans and nature, and the costs of coping with loneliness. The screening is part of the Cinephile Paradise section of the Gala presentation.

3. ‘The Sparring Partner’ (Dir. Ho Cheuk-tin)

With accolades under the Firebird Awards, and the Chinese-language Young Cinema Competition, Ho’s “The Sparring Partner” is a Gala pick that’s definitely worth keeping your eyes on. A filmic adaptation from a 2013 Hong Kong court case, the tale follows the bloody fallout of a duo who help to kill one of the young men’s parents. As a directorial debut, the tense action that comes as a result of a simple not-guilty plea is handled with gusto, offering a taut narrative of doubts, debates, and drama.

4. ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’ (Dir. Alex Law)

Highlighting festival Filmmaker in Focus, Sandra Ng, in one of her most heartfelt roles, this Berlinale award winner is one of the most significant releases of Hong Kong cinema over the past decade. Set in the 1960s, circling the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood, “Echoes of the Rainbow” is a moving tapestry of the everyman Law family’s toils and triumphs over the years. Ng earned a Hong Kong Film Award (HKFA) nomination in her portrayal of the can-do Hong Kong spirit with this iconic persona.

5. ‘A Simple Life’ (Dir. Ann Hui)

A titan of the Hong Kong New Wave movement, Ann Hui is fittingly slotted into the Making Waves category with her second-most recent slice-of-life drama. A bare bones story that zeroes in on domestic helper Ah Tao, it tenderly unravels the deeply woven class relations beneath the professional field of caretaking, all whilst uplifting the connection between the two main characters. The beautiful portrayal by Deanie Ip garnered a Best Actress Award at the Venice Biennale, whilst the film earned mass commercial praise and up to five awards at the HKFA.

6. ‘The Grandmaster’ (Dir. Wong Kar Wai)

No list or mention of Hong Kong cinema would be complete without paying tribute to Wong Kar Wai. A dazzling, dreamy take on a martial arts film, “The Grandmaster” taps into the stringent code of conduct that’s deeply tethered to the form. The familiar legend of Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man is told through Wong’s unique vision, earning him 12 wins at HKFA upon its initial release. This screening comes as part of the Making Waves section, in honour of influential Hong Kong filmmakers.

7. ‘Cow’ (Dir. Andrea Arnold)

Omitting narration, this documentary gets up close and personal to give an unflinching look into the overlooked cruelties of the dairy and cattle industry. From the moment of birth to the process of forced milking and cruel farm life, the camera doesn’t shy away from forcing potential viewers to confront every part of what goes on beyond the cow-derived products and ingredients that make it to our plates.

8. ‘Licorice Pizza’ (Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

A love letter to the era of his upbringing, and to the conventions of filmmaking within the period, Paul Thomas Anderson relays the tale of a budding actor-entrepreneur falling in love for the first time. Set in the bohemian San Fernando Valley of 1970s California, the worldbuilding is textured and spirited, with a sense of wistfulness that only youth can bring. The star-studded cast features a breakout performance by HAIM’s Alana Haim, and Cooper Hoffman as a cheekily flippant protagonist, alongside cameos from Sean Penn, Tom Waits, and Bradley Cooper.