SIFF to Hold a Retrospective Dedicated to Ageless Leslie Cheung

Time flies. It is April the first again. 13 years have passed since Leslie Cheung was gone. It is hard to believe that he has left us for such a long time. If he were still alive, he would have his 60th birthday this year. Although he was gone, his countenance is still vivid in our minds, never getting old…

Every year in April, people mourn for Leslie Cheung. They watch his films and photos to commemorate this superstar who has passed away, yet has great influence on them. In Hong Kong, the renovated and extended edition of Cheung’s film All’s Well End’s Well was brought back to the audience; in Republic of Korea, Moonlight Express and Once a Thief were screened again; and in China’s Mainland, Behind the Yellow Line, which had never been showed in cinema in China’s Mainland China, was premiered. In June at the SIFF, fans will have the opportunity to see all popular characters Leslie Cheung starred in different periods

After the announcement that the “Nostalgia of Films--Retrospective of the 30th Anniversary of the Death of Andrei Tarkovsky” will be shown in the “Tribute to Masters” section at SIFF, the committee of the 19th SIFF announced today that a Retrospective Dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Birth of Leslie Cheung will also be held at SIFF. At present, several films Leslie Cheung starred in have been added to the exhibition. The sponsor of the festival is negotiating with relevant parties, trying to provide film fans and fans of Leslie Cheung with classic and representative works of Leslie Cheung

From Ashes to Ashes

A review of classic roles played by Leslie Cheung in films

In the sight of many people, Leslie Cheung was an outstanding actor. He was a singer, and starred in many TV dramas and films. He sang and composed many songs which received great popularity, and had great achievements in films. Leslie Cheung worked as an actor for 24 years, starring in 56 films. He was nominated best actor for eighteen times at various film festival, including Cannes International Film Festival, Venice International Film Festival, Hong Kong Film Awards and Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards.

Leslie Cheung won his first, as well as the only “Best Actor” in Hong Kong Film Awards with his film, Days of being Wild, in 1991. However, what was more important was that he put heart and soul into the portraying of every character, which made these characters popular among people. All of the roles he played were incredibly impressive to the audience, and no one could replace them, such as the infatuated and artless Ning Caichen, the self-willed and infatuated He Baorong, the lonely and cold Ouyang Feng, and Cheng Dieyi who was obsessed with Peking Opera. Leslie Cheung portrayed in Days of Being Wild a person who was aloof and rebellious, and in The Eagle Shooting Heroes, funny and humorous. He handled them properly. He was not only an idol when he starred in films, but an actor who had his own acting style and charm.

　　Farewell My Concubine (1993)

Some people spoke highly of Cheng Dieyi, the leading role of the film, saying he was the best Dan (a female role in Chinese opera) in history. Leslie Cheung also said that, he was so immersed in the world of Cheng Dieyi that he didn’t play any roles in two years after he finished the film. Chen Kaige, the director, once said:“There would be no Farewell My Concubine without Leslie Cheung.” Playing the role of Cheng Dieyi was the most important turning point in Leslie Cheung’s life.

　　Days of Being Wild (1990)

“I’ve heard that, there was a kind of bird that has no legs. It could only fly and fly. When it got tired, it slept in the wind. This kind of bird landed only once in his life, that’s when it died.” This despairing “bird that never landed” was an omen of Leslie’s life. Hearing this prophetic line, people cannot help sighing.

　　Ashes of Time (1994)

“I’ve heard that, if you have to lose something, all you can do is to keep it in your memory.” This classic line can be applied to us who have been missing Leslie Cheung so much.

　　A Better Tomorrow (1986)

In this film, Leslie Cheung successfully portrayed a young, stubborn and inexperienced policeman who was dedicated to his duties. It was said that “you pay attention to Chow Yun-fat only the first time you watch this film, Ti Lung the second time and Leslie Cheung the third”. This film was Leslie Cheung’s favorite.

　　The Bride with White Hair (1993)

Zhuo Yihang acted by Leslie Cheung isn\'t so righteous as the protagonist in the novel. In the film, Zhuo is carefree and unrestrained at first but turns melancholy and troubled later. His every frown and every smile are full of flirtation. Leslie Cheung\'s nickname "Ge Ge (meaning older brother)" originated from this film exactly. When they were trying the costumes, Leslie Cheung looked at Brigitte Lin and praised,"Jie Jie (meaning older sister), you look so beautiful!" And Brigitte Lin smiled,"Ge Ge, you look so handsome!" Then the nickname spread. Brigitte Lin wrote in her book,"The film crew called me \'Jie Jie\' and Leslie Cheung \'Ge Ge\'. I think they probably believe both of us are in need of love especially.”

　　All\'s Well, Ends Well (1992)

Crowned as one of the most successful comedy films of Hong Kong, All\'s Well, Ends Well, shows the other side of Leslie Cheung, his talent as a comedian. Even when acting with comedy masters like Stephen Chow, Raymond Wong, Sandra Ng and Teresa Mo, Leslie Cheung was not inferior in any aspect and gave play to his unique style. When he was acting with Teresa Mo, they designed plenty of plots themselves, for instance, playing Mahjong that they both loved.

You left, but the memories are spread everywhere.

SIFF\'s Endless Love for Leslie Cheung

To many Leslie Cheung\'s fans, Leslie will always hold a part in their hearts, just like what\'s said in his song Left Right Hand:“You left, but the memories are spread everywhere." His fans will never stop their love for him and they\'ll always miss him.

We have felt their deep love in every year\'s SIFF. In 2015, the 4k renovated version of A Better Tomorrow, the first film under the cooperation of John Woo and Leslie Cheung, was screened in the 4k Renovated Films section of the 18th SIFF.

The premiere was held at The Grand Theatre, which was of special significance. When Leslie Cheung and Chen Kaige came to Shanghai to promote their film, Farewell My Concubine, they chose this exact cinema for the promotion in China’s Mainland. And it was the first time that Leslie Cheung had appeared before Shanghai\'s media and fans.

A news report of that time said,"... Finally, Leslie Cheung came onto the stage. He walked to the microphone gracefully and said hello to the audience politely. Once again, the anxious fans blew roaring whistles; some female fans screamed; some raised a banner and lighted it up with a flashlight. Leslie Cheung looked up and felt a bit embarrassed. On the banner it read:\'Leslie, I\'ll marry nobody but you!\'...’.......”

Every footprint left by Leslie Cheung in Shanghai is connected to film, and his fans used their own ways to commemorate their idol. When the 4k renovated version of A Better Tomorrow premiered in 2015, the 1st seat of the 4th row and the 12th seat of the 9th row were booked in advance and purposefully left unoccupied. The flowers lying on the two seats embodied the deep love of Leslie\'s fans.

"No one stays on my mind the way you do." The lingering love of Leslie\'s fans for him has gone way beyond the pursuit of “romanticism”. Leslie Cheung, with his songs, films, his elegance and attraction, had accompanied them through their young and ignorant youths, and most of their sentimental days.

Seeing Leslie’s ageless appearance in the films, people miss him so much, with nothing in mind but deep admiration for him. Every fan of Leslie’s, let’s meet at SIFF in June 2016.