Despite gaining fame in Hong Kong, it was in Macau where Cheang Pou-Soi had his first cinematic experiences, making regular visits to the Cineteatro. Last month the director of the recently released ‘The Monkey King’, returned to the old cinema and the city he left when he was just 11 years old, to show a particularly special film, ‘Accident’, as part of The Script Road – Macau Literary Festival. Produced by Johnnie To, the movie tells the story of a hired killer who makes all the deaths seem accidental.
Hong Kong films have been criticised for being too commercial, always focused on action films. Why is this the case?
Cheang Pou-Soi – In Hong Kong, cinema has no artistic purpose; it’s a market thing, something to submit to the boss. We can have meetings to talk about the film, but after the meeting the question is always the same: “Can you make an action film? A thriller or martial arts film?” Hong Kong filmmakers accept this. In the case of ‘Accident’ there is a murderer, scenes of violence, love – everything is there. But there is also feeling in the movie, in the way the story is told and in the way it is filmed. That makes the difference.
Is that why you decided to bring this movie to Macau?
Yes. It’s a special film. I started writing the script and it took me three years. During those three years I only made this film. I gave up many other jobs. When Johnnie [To] told me he was going to produce the film, I wrote 12 or 13 different versions, with the same title and the same story. ‘Accident’ was like a rebirth, a new beginning for me. It is very important to me.
Now you are working on a movie set in Macau. What is it about?
I’m still developing the script. It’s a police film, about a murder and it involves casinos. The story is inspired by a Chinese tale and takes place in Mainland China, but I wanted to bring it to Macau. There’s a killer and a victim, a small love story in the middle, and the police who want to catch the killer.
You have always filmed in Hong Kong. Why do it in Macau now?
When I read the story I felt it would be great if it were set here. I really wanted to shoot in Macau, to make a film in my home town.
Do you think that Macau can have its own film industry?
Maybe, but it’s not necessary. What is needed is local films – don’t think about whether they are commercial films or not, just shoot. If a filmmaker wants to make a film in Macau, then do it. I don’t care if it’s developing an industry or not. What is needed is to shoot and to screen the films in theatres. If they want to make a big film they need to hire stars from Hong Kong, from China. Don’t worry about any of that stuff.
