Realism and Vision: "Hong Kong Trilogy" Speaks for Hong Kong

The [Hong Kong Trilogy] originated from a short film project at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The festival organizers invited Christopher Doyle to direct a short film as part of the "Beautiful 2014" short film series. This half-hour piece was originally titled *Hong Kong 2014: Education for All*, depicting the hopes and dreams of children in the city. After its premiere at the Hong Kong Film Festival in March 2014, it received critical acclaim and garnered up to 1.5 million online views, which inspired producers Sun Mingli, Xu Zhijian, and director Christopher Doyle to develop it into a feature-length film.

Then, in late September 2014, the "Umbrella Movement" for genuine universal suffrage took place in Hong Kong. Christopher Doyle felt he couldn’t let this historic moment go undocumented: “As a creator who believes in the social responsibility of cinema, I felt compelled to capture such a historic moment—even if it meant using just an iPhone, a camera, or my own money. I’ve made almost a hundred films, lived in Hong Kong for so long, and Hong Kong has given me so much. I had to give something back. This was the perfect opportunity to let the youth have their say. I’m always busy, running around, but with the Umbrella Movement, I felt I should film it—to speak to people of my generation.” As a result, in addition to *Open the Door and See the Mountain*, which is told from a child’s perspective, *The Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains*, seen through the eyes of young people, and *No Regrets*, documenting the stories of the elderly, were also created, forming the [Hong Kong Trilogy], which portrays Hong Kong’s older, middle-aged, and younger generations.

“Let Hong Kong Speak, Co-Write the Story”

For the production team, this was a film completed outside the conventional film system. Apart from Christopher Doyle, the average age of the crew was under 29. There was no script and no specific subject during filming—instead, a wealth of interviews with ordinary people were compiled and edited to present a perspective unique to Hong Kongers. It is neither a documentary nor a fictional film, and it tackled highly politically sensitive themes. The insufficient funding was raised through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, with donations ranging from as little as HK$5 to over HK$5,000. Within a month, a total of USD $124,126 was raised. A film depicting the lives of Hong Kong people, made with the most grassroots approach and funded entirely by public donations, holds even greater significance. The film premiered globally at the Toronto Film Festival and subsequently participated in the Busan Film Festival, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, and others. In addition to widespread praise and support from audiences, it also received recognition from international media outlets such as The New York Times and Variety, sparking global resonance. The film was released in Hong Kong for limited screenings on the one-year anniversary of the "Umbrella Movement," with every screening sold out. Its special screening at the Golden Horse International Film Festival also saw tickets quickly snapped up.

Production Chronicle

Director Introduction