Film Archive to present screening programme Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema (with photos)
The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a screening programme entitled Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema from June 28 to August 24, screening eight selected films, taking materials from the history of the Qin and Han dynasties. The programme will showcase how Hong Kong filmmakers draw inspiration from Chinese history, literature and folk legends to create films of distinct styles. The screening event is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025.
The opening film, “The Great Conqueror’s Concubine” (1994) (4K digitised version), with historical warlords Xiang Yu and Liu Bang portrayed by Ray Lui and Zhang Fengyi respectively, was directed by Stephen Shin, who penned the screenplay with Xiao He (He Jiping) and Sze Yeung-ping, based on the original screenplay by renowned writer Liu Heng. The film meticulously depicts the rise and fall of Xiang, illustrates magnificent battle scenes and conveys the anguish in battlefields in the past.
“A Terra-Cotta Warrior” (1990) is adapted by author Lilian Lee from her novel. The film follows the riveting romance spanning across eras between a Qin dynasty general, played by Zhang Yimou, and a court maiden in the past and a modern day actress, both played by Gong Li, vividly portraying the fantastical story with swift fighting scenes.
In “Dream Lovers” (1986), Chow Yun-fat and Brigitte Lin play a married couple in the Qin dynasty in their past lives. When they meet again at a terra-cotta army exhibition after reincarnations, their romance descends into a love triangle involving the fiancée of Chow’s character in his current life, presenting a time-spanning love story.
“The Myth” (2005) is also a love story linking different eras. An archaeologist, played by Jackie Chan, and his scientist friend, played by Tony Leung Ka-fai, accidentally discover the archaeologist’s lover in his past life, a princess played by Korean actress Kim Hee Seon, still alive in a royal tomb since taking an elixir of immortality during the Qin dynasty.
“Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon” (2008) and “The Lost Bladesman” (2011) are both inspired by well-known figures during the Three Kingdoms period. The former tells the sad story of unfulfilled ambition and the cruel twists of fate in the life of the formidable general, Zhao Zilong, played by Andy Lau, from his prime years to old age, culminating in a fateful showdown with Cao Ying, a fictional character played by Maggie Q, the granddaughter of his enemy Cao Cao, as Zhao is under siege in a mountain battle, highlighting the poignant tragedy of Zhao’s fate. Co-directed by Alan Mak and Felix Chong, “The Lost Bladesman” skillfully depicts Guan Yu, played by Donnie Yen, as a tragic hero through the story between Guan and Cao Cao, played by Jiang Wen, when Guan is captured by Cao.
In “Red Cliff” (2008) and “Red Cliff II” (2009), director John Woo brings the Battle of Red Cliffs, a watershed moment that sets the stage for the Three Kingdoms period, to the silver screen. Staring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Chang Chen and Zhang Fengyi, the films bring to life this legendary battle with the distinctive action choreography by Corey Yuen and spectacular sound designs and visual effects.
Some of the screenings will be accompanied by pre-screening or post-screening talks, hosted by directors Stephen Shin, Daniel Lee and John Woo (online); actor Ray Lui; film critics Thomas Shin, Shu Kei, Eric Tsang and Pierre Lam.
“The Great Conqueror’s Concubine” and “A Terra-Cotta Warrior” will be screened at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with tickets priced at $80 and $70 respectively, and a 20 per cent discount for LCSD Museum Pass holders purchasing regular-priced tickets for the films at URBTIX outlets. Other films will be screened at the HKFA Cinema, with tickets priced at $60. A 20 per cent discount is also available for every purchase of regular-priced tickets of two or more screenings of this programme.
Tickets will be available from May 23 (Friday) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ccf-qin-and-han/pe-event-2025-ccf-qin-and-han.html) or call 2739 2139.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2025 will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, film screenings, exhibitions, as well as community and school activities and more, the festival provides members of the public and visitors with more opportunities to enjoy distinctive programmes that showcase fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby facilitating patriotic education and contributing to the inheritance, transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture in Hong Kong. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.
