A biopic of Bruce Lee's kung fu master won best picture at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards yesterday, but a documentary-like film about a working-class neighborhood dominated the other top prizes.
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Hong Kong director Raymond Wong (left) and actor Donnie Yen (right front) celebrate with the trophy after winning the Best Film award for movie "Ip Man" at the Hong Kong Film Awards last night. [Photo: shanghaidaily.com]
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"Ip Man," a profile of the martial arts teacher of the same name starring Donnie Yen, took top honors at the annual awards ceremony, but the low-budget "The Way We Are" took home prizes for best director Ann Hui, best actress Paw Hee Ching, and best supporting actress for Chan Lai-wun.
Best actor went to Nick Cheung, who portrayed a kidnapper who struggles to care for his wife in the action thriller "The Beast Stalker." Liu Kai-chi took home a best supporting actor award for his work in the same film.
The action-filled "Ip Man" describes how the kung fu master resisted Japanese rule in his southern Chinese hometown during the World War II era. Ip's most famous disciple was Lee, who studied with him for five years starting at age 13.
Producer Raymond Wong said he felt bad that Yen and director Wilson Yip lost in their categories but was pleased with the best film award because it "honors everyone involved in the movie."
But the sentimental favorite of the night was "The Way We Are," a rare, locally flavored film at a time when the Hong Kong industry is increasingly catering to the booming Chinese mainland market with historical and kung fu epics.
