This year, filmmakers from around the world are visiting the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Among the big names is Hong Kong action film master To Qifeng, who showcased films such as <Drug War> (2012), <Blind Detective> (2013), and last year's <Eastern Condors> (1993) through the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. On the afternoon of July 5, under the moderation of Cineplay's editor-in-chief, Joo Seong-cheol, To Qifeng's masterclass titled 'When Genre Meets To Qifeng' was held.
Before the masterclass, To Qifeng selected the 2004 film <The Duel> as the work to be screened. He has often mentioned <The Sparrow> (2008) along with <The Duel> as one of his favourite works. This coming-of-age film focuses on the vitality exuded by lead actors Ko Cheon-rak, Kwak Bu-seong, and Eung Chae-ah, as much as the action that appears intermittently. “In fact, I don’t think I have a ‘best’ film yet. However, when many people ask me to pick one work, I often mention <The Duel>, which deals with youth. The year 2003 was a time when SARS was rampant, and Hong Kong was not economically well. It was a period of unemployment and depression. Therefore, I wanted to convey a message that, although it is gloomy, we should have dreams and run towards the future.”
Akiro Kurosawa is a revered Japanese master whom To Qifeng admires alongside Ho Kam-chuen. He has expressed a desire to direct the climax of his co-produced film with France, <Revenge> (2009), in a manner similar to Kurosawa Akiro's <Throne of Blood> (1957). <The Duel> is a loose remake of Kurosawa Akiro's <Sugata Sanshiro> (1943), which is based on judo. “I learned what cinema is through director Akiro Kurosawa. I received the message that if you have passion and dreams, you can take on challenges from his debut film, <Sugata Sanshiro>.” The sun in the ending of <The Duel> is influenced by the Japanese films he was passionate about in his youth, symbolising that after the sun sets, the day will come again when the sun rises, and that the sun is cheering for us humans. “The sun setting and rising is a daily occurrence. Some people are sad every day, and some are happy every day. The key is what role you play. It is important to live happily and diversely every day.”
To Qifeng, who has directed commercial films in various genres, established the film company ‘Milkyway Image’ in 1996. Before starting ‘Milkyway’, he felt like an engineer when making films with ‘entertainment’ elements. “Even when making commercial films, I received a lot of love, but it was a mindset of piecing together bits from here and there. I didn’t make a film for a year from 1995. I made a resolution with my friend, director Yuen Woo-ping, that we should have the ideology that film is born and I am film, rather than copying others’ works.” Shortly after starting ‘Milkyway’, a time came when no one was investing in films, but “since I only knew how to make films,” To Qifeng believed in himself and kept the company afloat, producing not only his own works but also films by colleagues and juniors such as Yuen Woo-ping, Joe Cheung, Yau Nai-hoi, Na Young-chang, Yoon Nae-hae, and director Cheng Pao-lui, who will soon visit Bucheon with the closing film of this year’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, <The Dragon Fortress: Lawless Zone>.
To Qifeng's latest work is the short film <The Jackpot> from the omnibus film <Septet: Hong Kong Stories> (2020). It is the only work depicting Hong Kong since its return in 1997, expressing “respect for film.” Known as a prolific director, when asked about his new directorial work, he replied, “I don’t know when the filming will end, but I am currently shooting. Since I am filming without a script, I will only know what kind of work it will be once the filming is finished,” which brought great laughter among fans who know his usual style. What about sequels to previous works that many are hoping for? “Directors have a sad timetable. There are climaxes, and there are bad times. The job of a director is to create immediately when inspiration comes. If you don’t feel the emotions of making the first film, the results won’t be good.” Perhaps feeling the audience's disappointment, To Qifeng concluded with a joke, “I think it would be possible if I were the lead,” marking a meaningful time spent with fans who love To Qifeng and Hong Kong cinema.
Cineplay guest reporter Moon Dong-myeong
