The turmoil that has overtaken Hong Kong since its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 has spawned a new generation of young, passionately committed activist filmmakers; they want to tell Hong Kong's story with Hong Kong voices. And the best indie documentary to have emerged so far from the HKSAR is this year's Yellowing, by Chan Tze Woon, a 29-year-old with degrees in policy studies and film production. Hong Kong's fraught, tense relationship with its mainland Chinese overseers came to a head with the Umbrella Movement of 2014. A crowd of protesters stormed Civic Square on September 27. The next day police shocked most residents of the HKSAR by attacking the growing crowds with volleys of tear gas, whereupon a wide cross section of Hong Kongers occupied the streets in several areas and stayed for almost 6 weeks. Chan took his camera on the streets for 67 days during these events.
Direction
Chan embedded himself for 67 days—no distance, no safety net.
Editing
Constructs narrative urgency from chaotic real-time events.
Director
Chan Tze-Woon
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title refers to yellow ribbons worn by pro-democracy supporters—colors that would become dangerous symbols by 2019.
Chan shot this while completing his film degree; professors initially dismissed his project as 'too political' to succeed.
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