Addressing attendees at the Lumière Film Festival, a visibly moved Tsui Hark dedicated his presence to Nansun Shi, the pioneering producer who passed away in July at 75. "I miss my partner, Nansun, who helped me on so many projects over so many years," Hark shared, acknowledging her profound impact on his career. He added, "I hope that if she is around us spiritually, she’s happy about what we are doing here."
Shi was a formidable force in Hong Kong cinema, co-founding Film Workshop with Hark in 1984. Together, they brought iconic films to global audiences, a collaboration that continued professionally even after their divorce. Their enduring partnership is set to be honored posthumously with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2025.
Hark, a leading figure of the Hong Kong New Wave and a master of reinventing the martial arts genre, is celebrated at Lumière with a retrospective featuring screenings of his influential works like Shanghai Blues, Peking Opera Blues, Once Upon a Time in China, and Time and Tide.
Looking forward, Hark revealed details of a new comedy project currently in development in London. The film, he explained, aims to bring together individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds to tackle a serious issue, offering a humorous perspective on such collaborations. This aligns with his philosophy of always planning five years ahead, rather than solely focusing on the present.
The director also delved into the evolving landscape of media and technology, particularly the increasing presence of Artificial Intelligence. He mused on the blurring lines between reality and illusion, questioning how individuals navigate a world saturated with advertising, propaganda, and digital influences. "I think it’s getting more ridiculous now that we have AI in our culture," he observed, expressing a sense of unease about the uncertainty AI introduces. "When you wake up, you don’t know what’s real."
Despite his concerns about societal chaos, including global crises and technological shifts, Hark maintains a firm belief in the power of humor. He sees cinema as a vital tool for offering fresh perspectives and injecting optimism. "One of the important elements in filmmaking is that maybe we can entertain and inject humor into our belief that the world is still a wonderful place to live."