City of Glass (film)
| City of Glass | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mabel Cheung |
| Written by |
Mabel Cheung Alex Law |
| Starring |
Leon Lai Shu Qi Nicola Cheung Daniel Wu Eason Chan Pauline Yam Vincent Kok |
| Music by | Ricky Ho |
| Cinematography |
Jingle Ma Arthur Wong |
| Edited by | Maurice Li |
Release dates | 1998 |
Running time | 110 min. |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK$ 9 million |
City of Glass (玻璃之城; Boli zhi cheng) is a 1998 Hong Kong film, directed by Mabel Cheung.
Summary
On New Year's Day 1997, a car accident in London, England claims the lives of Raphael (Lai) and Vivian (Shu). The couple was once young lovers during their days at the University of Hong Kong in the 1970s, but had drifted apart and eventually ended up marrying other people and raising their own families. However, they reunited in the 1990s and their love partially rekindled. After their funeral, Raphael's son David and Vivian's daughter Suzie learned of their parents' affair and embark on a journey to discover their secret lives. In the end, the two fall in love.
Cast
- Nicola Cheung - Suzie
- Daniel Wu - David
- Leon Lai - Raphael
- Audrey Mak - Tiger Sing
- Shu Qi - Vivian
- Vincent Kok
- Pauline Yam
- Eason Chan
- Wong Wah-Wo - Taxi Driver
- Joe Cheung
- Elaine Jin
- Henry Fong
Reception
The film was deemed a modest commercial success, grossing HK$9 million in its 1998 Hong Kong theatrical release.[3] Critical commentary perceived the film as a metaphorical comment on the end of British rule in Hong Kong after the handover to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.[4][5]
Awards
The film was nominated for 12 Hong Kong Film Awards (including best picture), winning for best song.[6] It was nominated for 11 Golden Horse Awards, winning for original screenplay, sound, editing, and cinematography, as well as the audience award.[7]
References
- ↑ City of Glass at HKMDB
- ↑ City of Glass at chinesemov.com
- ↑ "Review: 'City of Glass'", 21 March 1999.
- ↑ Michael Berry, A History of Pain: Trauma in Modern Chinese Literature and Film (Columbia University Press, 2013), ISBN 978-0231512008, p. 374. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ↑ Yingjin Zhang, Chinese National Cinema (Psychology Press, 2004), ISBN 978-0415172899, p. 270. Excerpts available at Google Books.
- ↑ List of Award Winner of The 18th Hong Kong Film Awards (accessed 2014-09-02).
- ↑ "Film stars honored at double festival", Taiwan Info, 18 December 1998.