Media Review - "Ten Years" (十年)

Media Review - "Ten Years" (十年)

"Ten Years" - the Best Film Award of 35th Hong Kong Film Awards, directed by Kwok Zune (Extras), Fei-Pang Wong (Season of the End), Jevons Au (Dialect), Chow Kwun-Wai (Self-immolator) and Ng Ka-leung (Local Egg), a film that composed by the five stories, responding the existing problems in contemporary Hong Kong society. “The return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 has led to a contraction of the political sphere, as the convergence of political structures curbed the development of local identities.” (Fung, p.3) When the government continues giving pressure to stop the opponent, "Ten years" imagine that what Hong Kong would become after ten years. Using today's situation to envisage the future. The genre of "Ten years" are invariably heavy, it depicts the vital concerns of Hong Kong people.

"Extras" (浮瓜) is Filming by black humor with black and white screen. In 2020, the authorities in order to implement the national security law in Hong Kong, and carry out assassination for themselves to figure out a "terrorist attacks.” The director using the limited resources and simple scene, to describe the cause and ending of three groups of people. The dialogue of the gangsters, reflect the awful plight of the lower stratum in the society. The gangsters still think that they have choice until become pawns in the ending. These precisely allude that betray “Hong Kong” would no possibility to turn over again.

"Season of the End" (冬蟬) is about a pair of lovers turn all demised stuffs into specimens among the slum (Hong Kong after 10 years). The story’s genre is sci-fi, for example: the ruins of the scene and handled like a dream, as it would say that Hong Kong culture will soon disappear over time, because of the contradictions of Hong Kong society.

 

 

 "Self-immolator" (自焚者) is filming with pseudo-documentary feature. In 2025, a self-immolation incident occurred in front of the British Consulate. Before the incident, there had been a crackdown (alluding Umbrella Revolution): tear gas in the smoke-filled streets, student was beaten by the police. In the pseudo-documentary part, the interviewee criticize the government directly use the extreme dictatorship nor democracy. Finally, the self-immolator appeared in the ending made everyone stimulate a deep thought. The screen also appears an incinerated umbrella, the meaning is obvious.

 

Jevons Au’s Dialect (方言) and Ng Ka-leung’s Local Egg (本地蛋) have similar genre. In "dialect", Cantonese will be excluded in ridiculous situation. Local Hong Kong citizen feel that difficult to subsist in the future without Mandarin, this situation is sobering. In "Local egg", the "Youth Guard" use the prohibition to tyrannize over the opponent. This seem return to the Cultural Revolution period in China again. Hong Kong society is now retrogress rapidly because of the political suppression. Both stories remind us must ponder before action, never accept the injustice.

 

 "Ten Years" conclude with a quote from the Bible: "It is an evil time. Seek good, and not evil, that you may live" (5:13b-14a, Book of Amos). Reminding Hong Kong people that "Everything is not too late.” “Ten Years" imagine Hong Kong would completely collapse, it is not telling us despair negatively, but hope everyone understand the social crisis clearly.

Reference:

Fung, A., 2010, WHAT MAKES THE LOCAL? A BRIEF CONSIDERATION OF THE REJUVENATION OF HONG KONG IDENTITY. Taylor & Francis

 

Written by Lee Hoi Man Emmy, (10488736 / 21625945)