Watching "Happy Together" on Big Silver Screen
Late last week, it came as a surprise when I learned from Lan of Boston that "Happy Together" was going to be screened here in Toronto yesterday (May 22, 2007). Upon receipt of such wonderful news, I immediately got ahold of Sandy and decided to go together to support. Sandy had been kind enough to go and get the tickets for us.
The big day finally arrived. Luckily, my boss was on vacation and I therefore might leave a bit earlier in order to get to the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre on time to attend the film which started at 5:15 p.m. What odd hours! Who would be able to get off from work and reach the theatre on time for the 5:15 p.m. screening!
We felt comforted to find that the theatre was almost 70% full, not a bad turnout really. Like last time in February 2005 when the movie "Days of Being Wild" was screened here in Toronto, majority of the audience were westerners. I always wonder why in a city like Toronto which has such a huge Chinese community, so very few Chinese audience turned up. The response towards screening of Leslie's movies did not seem to be enthusiastic.
I must say that this theatre was a poor one. The sound effect was not great. As it was right above the subway line, we could even feel the theatre shaking with each TTC train running below us.
"Happy Together" was chosen as one of the movies being shown in the 17th Annual Toronto Lesbian and Gay Firm and Video Festival.
Watching Leslie in "Happy Together" on big screen brought back a lot of memories: that he was seriously ill suffering from the attack of Amoeba virus when he was filming the movie in Argentina; that he was accused by Wong Kar Wai for leaving the crew in Argentina early to go back to Hong Kong to prepare for his 1997 Crossover Concert, and that he only stayed after being paid extra money (of course, this was merely a story made up by Wong Kar Wai; Leslie had publicly denied so in an interview by a magazine); that Leslie talked Tony Leung into playing the gay role professionally; that he was commented that as a gay himself, it was natural for him to play the role well; etc. etc.
We could see in the movie that Leslie did give out all he had for the film.
Looking at him dancing tango on big screen was a treat, so elegant and graceful; as well, his playfulness and teases towards Lai Yiu Fai was as well unforgetable. Our hearts broke when we saw Ho Po Wing eagerly waiting for Lai Yiu Fai to return but was in vain. Our hearts just went out to him and wanted to comfort him. Leslie was such a great actor.
At the end of the movie, a lot of the audience applauded; whether it was for the film, for the director, or whatever, but for me, mine was a big hand for my dearest Leslie.
ABOUT THE FILM as described in the booklet of the 17th Toronto Lesbian and Gay Firm and Video Festival (2007):
Happy Together (Cheun gwong tsa sit) Winner of the Best Director prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, Wong Kar-Wai’s Happy Together comes to Inside Out for a special screening. Effortlessly balancing a stunning display of filmmaking style and a touching love story, Hong Kong and world cinema have never seen anything quite like it. Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung, two of Hong Kong’s biggest stars, play a pair of gay lovers living out the waning days of their relationship as expatriates in Buenos Aires. Together with Christopher Doyle, Wong’s longtime cinematographer, the director discovers a city rich with diverse cultural influences. Happy Together reveals a corner of the world alive with intimate colors and an astonishing array of sounds. Even more striking, though, is the way that such an international collaboration brings to life a romance that is so realistic. Ho and Lai are characters who are instantly identifiable, who play the roles and experience the dynamics that all couples go through in the course of a relationship. Lusty tango bars, the salsa music of La Boca sidewalks and the hypnotic vision of the nearby Iguazu Falls give further dimension to the tensions growing between the two lovers. A modern film made by an auteur with a distinctive signature, Happy Together contains equal amounts of cinematic beauty and penetrating drama. Here, Wong has crafted a rare art film which cemented his reputation as a world-class director.
Best Director, Cannes Film Festival Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish
The big day finally arrived. Luckily, my boss was on vacation and I therefore might leave a bit earlier in order to get to the Royal Ontario Museum Theatre on time to attend the film which started at 5:15 p.m. What odd hours! Who would be able to get off from work and reach the theatre on time for the 5:15 p.m. screening!
We felt comforted to find that the theatre was almost 70% full, not a bad turnout really. Like last time in February 2005 when the movie "Days of Being Wild" was screened here in Toronto, majority of the audience were westerners. I always wonder why in a city like Toronto which has such a huge Chinese community, so very few Chinese audience turned up. The response towards screening of Leslie's movies did not seem to be enthusiastic.
I must say that this theatre was a poor one. The sound effect was not great. As it was right above the subway line, we could even feel the theatre shaking with each TTC train running below us.
"Happy Together" was chosen as one of the movies being shown in the 17th Annual Toronto Lesbian and Gay Firm and Video Festival.
Watching Leslie in "Happy Together" on big screen brought back a lot of memories: that he was seriously ill suffering from the attack of Amoeba virus when he was filming the movie in Argentina; that he was accused by Wong Kar Wai for leaving the crew in Argentina early to go back to Hong Kong to prepare for his 1997 Crossover Concert, and that he only stayed after being paid extra money (of course, this was merely a story made up by Wong Kar Wai; Leslie had publicly denied so in an interview by a magazine); that Leslie talked Tony Leung into playing the gay role professionally; that he was commented that as a gay himself, it was natural for him to play the role well; etc. etc.
We could see in the movie that Leslie did give out all he had for the film.
Looking at him dancing tango on big screen was a treat, so elegant and graceful; as well, his playfulness and teases towards Lai Yiu Fai was as well unforgetable. Our hearts broke when we saw Ho Po Wing eagerly waiting for Lai Yiu Fai to return but was in vain. Our hearts just went out to him and wanted to comfort him. Leslie was such a great actor.
At the end of the movie, a lot of the audience applauded; whether it was for the film, for the director, or whatever, but for me, mine was a big hand for my dearest Leslie.
ABOUT THE FILM as described in the booklet of the 17th Toronto Lesbian and Gay Firm and Video Festival (2007):
Happy Together (Cheun gwong tsa sit) Winner of the Best Director prize at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, Wong Kar-Wai’s Happy Together comes to Inside Out for a special screening. Effortlessly balancing a stunning display of filmmaking style and a touching love story, Hong Kong and world cinema have never seen anything quite like it. Tony Leung and Leslie Cheung, two of Hong Kong’s biggest stars, play a pair of gay lovers living out the waning days of their relationship as expatriates in Buenos Aires. Together with Christopher Doyle, Wong’s longtime cinematographer, the director discovers a city rich with diverse cultural influences. Happy Together reveals a corner of the world alive with intimate colors and an astonishing array of sounds. Even more striking, though, is the way that such an international collaboration brings to life a romance that is so realistic. Ho and Lai are characters who are instantly identifiable, who play the roles and experience the dynamics that all couples go through in the course of a relationship. Lusty tango bars, the salsa music of La Boca sidewalks and the hypnotic vision of the nearby Iguazu Falls give further dimension to the tensions growing between the two lovers. A modern film made by an auteur with a distinctive signature, Happy Together contains equal amounts of cinematic beauty and penetrating drama. Here, Wong has crafted a rare art film which cemented his reputation as a world-class director.
Best Director, Cannes Film Festival Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish
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