Elegies

101 minutes | 2023 | Documentary | Cantonese, Mandarin | English and Chinese Subtitles

Content Advisory: This film contains scenes of tobacco use.

Ann HUI began reading poetry at a very young age, finding that poems became her talismans against life’s doom and gloom. In this deeply personal and intimate documentary, she delves into the lesser-known poetic life of Hong Kong, painting a unique and heartfelt portrait of a city and its poets.

Ann HUI was born in 1947 in Anshan, Liaoning Province and later immigrated to Hong Kong with her family. After graduating from the University of Hong Kong, she studied films in the U.K. and then returned to Hong Kong to work in television and films. In 1979, she made her directorial debut The Secret and soon became a leader in the ‘Hong Kong New Wave’ film movement. Her notable works include Boat People (1982), Love in a Fallen City (1984), Song of the Exile (1990), Summer Snow (1995), The Way We Are (2008) and A Simple Life (2011). In 2020, Hui was awarded an Honorary Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.