Organised by the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the screening programme "Hairpin, Butterfly and Tong Tik-sang Revisited" will feature in July "The Legend of Purple Hairpin" (1959) and "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" (1959) (Restored Version) written by master Cantonese opera playwright Tong Tik-sang. The screening programme has received an overwhelming response from audiences and all tickets of the two previously announced screenings have been sold out. In this connection, the HKFA will introduce additional screenings of the two films on July 1 (Monday) and July 7 (Sunday) at its Cinema so that more audience members can enjoy the Chinese cultural treasure created by Tong. This screening programme is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF).
"The Legend of Purple Hairpin" and "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom", together with another two Cantonese opera classics "The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom" and "Princess Chang Ping" that were penned by Tong in the 1950s for the Sin Fung Ming Opera Troupe, are known as the "Dynastic Tetralogy". The operas provided material for the general public to reinforce their sense of identification with traditional Chinese culture while criticising the ills of an autocratic monarchy.
In "The Legend of Purple Hairpin", Huo Xiaoyu, a courtesan played by Pak Suet-sin, falls in love with scholar Li Yi played by Yam Kim-fai on the night of the Lantern Festival, but they are threatened by a powerful official, Marshal Lu, because of their growing romance. With the help of a royal, the Fourth Lord played by Leung Sing-por, the lovers eventually find a happy life together.
With Yam and Pak also portraying the protagonists in mutual admiration, "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" tells the story of a couple being repeatedly kept apart by twists of fate and the interference by a corrupt official played by Lan Chi Pak, culminating in the couple's touching and dream-like reunion at the end.
The two films were adapted by Tong from his own works and his most timeless and touching love stories. Under the directorship of Lee Tit that is in harmony with the rhythm of the original works and with his deft and smooth mise-en-scène, the films are legendary masterpieces that blend the art forms of Cantonese opera and cinema.
Both films are in Cantonese. "The Legend of Purple Hairpin" is with Chinese subtitles for lyrics while "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" is with Chinese and English subtitles. The additional screening schedule is as follows:
| Screening date | Time | Film title |
| July 1 (Monday) | 4.30pm | "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" |
| 7.30pm | "The Legend of Purple Hairpin" | |
| July 7 (Sunday) | 4.30pm | "The Legend of Purple Hairpin" |
| 7.30pm | "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" |
Tickets for the additional screenings priced at $45 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from June 9 (Sunday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the website of the HKFA (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/tts/pe-event-2024-tts.html) or call 2739 2139.
The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the LCSD's Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural CCF is held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please visit the CCF website www.ccf.gov.hk.
The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.
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