Patrick Tam and the "New Woman"
Document Type
Book chapter
Source Publication
Patrick Tam: From the heart of the new wave
Publication Date
1-1-2007
First Page
37
Last Page
63
Publisher
Centro espressioni cinematografiche
Abstract
For those of us who grew up in the mid-80s, the Hong Kong New Wave cinema is not so much first-hand experience as history to be salvaged, a fascinating and exotic story told by our elders. The institution of commercial cinema eventually eclipsed the new director’s endeavors at alternative cinema. In contrast, Taiwan’s New Cinema and Mainland China’s Fifth Generation Cinema flourished. Overnight, Chinese cinema became the focus of the world while Hong Kong’s New Wave cinema, which was the first to begin, was the most neglected in this lively forum. The endeavors of certain directors soon vanished from history. Their films made only twenty years ago are beyond the reach of the new generation of audience. In this paper, I wish to discuss the works for television and cinema of New Wave director Patrick Tam. The reason for this paper is the lack of discussion about this highly creative Hong Kong director in discourses on the contemporary cinemas of Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Tam’s work, with its modern approach to gender issue, should have a seat at this forum. This paper re-examines how gender is dealt with in his television and cinematic works, reviews their success and failure, and attempts to rethink this New Wave director in the light of contemporary gender discussions.
Additional Information
ISBN of the source publication: 9788889887042
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Wong, M. (2007). Patrick Tam and the "New Woman". In A. Pezzotta (Ed.), Patrick Tam: From the heart of the new wave (pp.37-63). Udine: Centro espressioni cinematografiche.