Latest news with #TonyLeung
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
China ‘goddess' actress makes comeback in Hong Kong crime thriller, stuns audiences at Cannes
Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan has made a notable comeback to the media spotlight with her new Hong Kong film, Sons of the Neon Night, which recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Advertisement After marrying Taiwanese-Canadian actor Mark Chao in 2014 and welcoming a daughter in 2019, Gao significantly reduced her public exposure, making her return to showbiz especially stunning for fans who observed that she seemed to have not aged at all. Sons of the Neon Night, a Hong Kong dystopian crime thriller, had its world premiere at Cannes on May 17. Gao graced the red carpet alongside director Juno Mak and co-stars Tony Leung Ka-fai and Louis Koo Tin-lok, while the other two main actors, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Sean Lau Ching-wan, were notably absent. Hong Kong actor Tony Leung, far left, along with Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan, centre, and actor Louis Koo, arrived for the screening of 'Sons of the Neon Night' at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2025. Photo: Sameer AL-DOUMY/AFP In the film, Gao portrays a retired therapist with a 'mysterious' character. She described the role as making her feel 'strange' in a positive way. Reflecting on the 2005 film Shanghai Dreams, which brought her to Cannes two decades ago, she recounted receiving a comment that suggested she was simply 'being herself' in that film, a notion that has lingered with her since. She said that for years she has sought to connect her roles with her personal self while maintaining a degree of distance. Sons of the Neon Night began shooting in 2017 and took eight years to reach audiences. The film features music composed by the legendary Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, who passed away in 2023. Advertisement On Chinese social media, Gao is affectionately referred to by many as their 'childhood goddess'.
Independent Singapore
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
'Sons of the Neon Night' Cannes premiere: Juno Mak and Tony Leung encourage viewers to value films
FRANCE: Hong Kong's dystopian crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on the 17th May after a decade-long production journey, marking its global debut in the Midnight Screenings section, as reported by Dimsum Daily . Photo: Instagram/Sons Of The Neon Night Juno Mak wrote and directed the movie, which had a fantastic cast that included some really well-known actors, such as Tony Leung Fai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Gao Yuanyuan. Set in Hong Kong The movie tells an intense story about the craziness that happens after a powerful drug company boss dies. It is set in Hong Kong, which is totally covered in snow—a different and cool twist. As the chairman's youngest son attempts to break away from his family's criminal enterprise, power battles break out inside the underground. Leung reminisced on the production ending in 2017 after the eagerly awaited premiere brought back strong memories. After seeing the movie again, he saw his character and the plot from a different angle. See also Tony Leung used to be a party boy Struggles of city life He pointed out that even though the movie looks a lot like Hong Kong, the ideas it explores about being human and the struggles of city life are things people everywhere can connect with. Living in a modern metropolis clearly reveals the daily 'rush, battles, and sufferings' that accompany it. Mak clarified that the film's completion took a very long time, mainly due to the pandemic's damage to the work following filming. In addition, a ton of complicated CGI was needed. In addition, it was a real challenge to make Hong Kong look snowy since it's usually pretty warm there! Amazingly, they actually created most of the snow—about 80%—right there on set and only used digital effects for the rest. Try something fresh Mak said he saw Sons of the Neon Night as a chance to shake up the usual crime movie and try some different things. He admitted that making another Rigor Mortis —his first movie—would have been the more straightforward path. 'But,' he added, 'I wanted to explore something new and find my truth as a filmmaker.' Making the movie was a real battle against the weather! They started filming in Hong Kong during a scorching summer—can you imagine the actors wearing thick winter coats in that 30°C heat? Then, they had to film in South Korea when it was absolutely freezing—the middle of winter! Leung was impressed with how calm and collected Mak stayed through it all, especially since those crazy temperature changes were taking a toll on the actors. The film also features music from the incredibly talented, and sadly missed, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Mak fondly recalled their collaboration as 'magical,' especially during a six-hour session in Tokyo, during which they shaped the movie's core sound. Apparently, Sakamoto was really inspired by the film's unique snowy setting, which lined up with his own artistic interests. How vital movie theatres are Later, at Cannes, both Mak and Leung emphasized how vital movie theaters are. They urged everyone to return to seeing films on the big screen together. Leung put it beautifully: 'Cinemas allow hundreds to gather and breathe together, sharing the director's dream.' He emphasised that even though streaming is so popular now, we shouldn't forget how special it is to connect with others through the unique experience of watching a movie in a cinema.
South China Morning Post
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Tony Leung Ka-fai reflects on his career ahead of Sons of the Neon Night's Cannes premiere
It has been a while since Tony Leung Ka-fai last made a high-profile appearance at a European film festival to promote a film, so the occasion feels a little special. Advertisement Still, when we sit down with him during the 2025 Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy, the Hong Kong film legend is waiting patiently in the hospitality suite of the Teatro Novo, quietly sipping a beer as journalists and photographers swirl around the room. 'I like this festival,' Leung says. 'I enjoy Udine and the audience here. Cannes is more formal, more commercial. You have to be on all the time.' This year the Far East Film Festival awarded filmmaker Tsui Hark a Golden Mulberry for Lifetime Achievement. Leung introduced Hark to a sold-out crowd and handed him the award after a screening of Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, the pair's most recent collaboration as star and director respectively. In the film, which is based on seven chapters of Louis Cha Leung-yung's 1959 tale The Legend of the Condor Heroes , Leung plays Venom West, a power-mad martial artist who intends to take over the world by stealing an important scripture.
South China Morning Post
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How the qipao found favour as a film mood-setter and red-carpet favourite
It's officially awards season – and almost Lunar New Year – which means we're about to be treated to a slew of exquisite fashion moments as celebrities walk the red carpet in designer looks. In years past, qipao-inspired dresses have had their moment in the limelight as a series of actresses, singers and media personalities have donned outfits drawing on the traditional Chinese dress for major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Met Gala, New York. The qipao, also known as the cheongsam – meaning 'long garment' – is distinctive for its mandarin collar, curve-hugging bodice and thigh-high skirt slit. The silhouette was dominant in the 1920s and 30s and has since become synonymous with conventional Chinese beauty and style. It has often been used as a visual cue to capture a certain aesthetic in cinematic masterpieces, including The World of Suzie Wong and Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love . Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung in Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love. Photo: Handout Though traditionally made with simple, knotted button fastenings on one side of the lapel, modern iterations of the qipao incorporate an array of contemporary individual elements to create designs that feel fresh and current on today's fashion scene. Examples from Chinese designers and brands forging a path in global fashion – such as Guo Pei and Shiatzy Chen – are sometimes photographed on the world's swankiest red carpets. A modern qipao-inspired outfit by Shiatzy Chen. Photo: Handout For years, qipao-inspired dresses were the go-to choice for Chinese actresses making their first forays into the world film scene at major festivals, including those of Cannes and Venice. Actresses such as Li Bingbing, Fan Bingbing and Gong Li have worn elaborate interpretations of these dresses on the international stage, garnering both good and bad reviews. While a recognisable part of Chinese culture, overly embellished versions can risk looking like costumes when not executed with precision. Movie idols Tony Leung and Gong Li arrive for the screening of 2046 at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. Photo: AP At the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, actress Gong Li walked the red carpet with Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi in a green-blue dress featuring a cloud print often found in traditional Chinese art and a silhouette heavily influenced by the qipao. The garment featured many of the design elements of the traditional long dress, but was given a touch of sex appeal with an open neckline. Taylor Swift wears a Chinese-inspired Zuhair Murad gown at the 2012 Grammys.
