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WHEN STARS COLLIDE

No, Elton John didn't appear at the 3rd Asian Film Awards, but something else happened...

Working in the film industry, even tangentially through a film festival, you sometimes see something very unusual, spectacular and rare. Like a supernova.

Backstage at the 3rd Asian Film Awards, as I was busy live updating the 3rd AFA website, I saw the ever lovely, and ever glorious Joan Chen seated at the common area, in a magnificent black off the shoulder number watching the live feed over a monitor.

Over at another corner, the legendary Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia, looking the very picture of elegance in a dark minimalist evening gown emerged from her dressing room and took a seat in the common area.

Catching sight of Brigitte as she turned around, Joan swept across the hall to introduce herself. As I saw two great legends and icons of cinema chat away like old friends, I suddenly realised how "star quality" is truly exceptional, and how much we devalue the term "star" when we bandy it around, fitting it to the latest singer, actress or celebrity.

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia and Joan Chen. The two have never worked together, and in view of Brigitte's extended "leave of absence" from the film world, might never will. It is a shame if they do not. For an audience of multitudes, these two women will never age, nor fade, nor die.

Their body of work ensures that like a supernova, they will burn great, burn bright, and burn long into the night sky in some distant time, that a future audience might say, "How rare! And how glad I am that they burned so brightly in the first place."

That's a star.

almost 16 years ago 0 likes 8 comments 0 shares

Marie Jost

Add Gong Li to the mix and you have the Holy Trinity of Chinese actresses. What a film that would be! But who would direct? Maybe Stanley Kwan could handle so much female talent in one film. He does get amazing performances out of his actors/actresses.

almost 16 years ago

HKIFF

Well, you didn't hear it from me, but the buzz on the street and in the local Hong Kong gossip rags and newspapers is that Brigitte is mulling a return to acting, and the only thing missing is a good enough script. So get cracking you screenwriters out there!

almost 16 years ago

Marie Jost

Yes, I wonder what Brigitte Lin would appear in these days? Surely not some bombastic historical costume epic (and those seem to be going out of fashion as we speak). I can't see her in a gangster drama or a romantic comedy as they are currently constituted in HK or China. Who would direct? John Woo is only good with men, Peter Chan's movies just get bigger and bigger, Wong Kar Wai is all tied up with Ip Man. What is left? Too bad she waited this long to make her comeback. I wonder if she will find the right vehicle and the right director to make this dream a reality? I hope so. I really do.

almost 16 years ago

HKIFF

Great comments Marie, keep them coming! Of course, there is no shame in a good bombastic historical costume epic (whew! that's a lot of adjectives!) when its done well, like Tsui Hark's Swordsmen series. It's not exactly true to say that John Woo is only good with women, back in the old days, the Big Woo cut his teeth on romantic comedies and screwball flicks. He could do well, but he'll play to his current strengths. Another contender is Mabel Cheung, who directed The Soong Sisters in 1997. She wrangled that story very well, too bad she's not enough of a name to pull Brigitte in. In all fairness, I think perhaps Tsui Hark is the one to bring her back into the fold. Coming off Missing and All About Women, which in fairness I thought were very poor attempts, Tsui's working on bringing the much anticipated Judge Dee to the big screen. The screenplay is reputedly one of the best scripts floating around the industry, and likewise, Tsui's been circling the film for a long time. There may not be a role in it for Brigitte, but Tsui knows how to direct women, lets hope he finds a good film to put Brigitte in soon.

almost 16 years ago

Marie Jost

I was afraid to mention Tsui Hark, given his recent track record. If he can control some of his recent directorial excesses, he would be the ideal director for Brigitte.

almost 16 years ago

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Hong Kong International Film Festival

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Languages Spoken: English,Cantonese,Mandarin
Location (City, Country): Hong Kong
Member Since: March 18, 2009
Gender: Male