FRANCE: Hong Kong’s dystopian crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night premiered at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on the 17th May after a decade-long production journey, marking its global debut in the Midnight Screenings section, as reported by Dimsum Daily.
Juno Mak wrote and directed the movie, which had a fantastic cast that included some really well-known actors, such as Tony Leung Fai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Gao Yuanyuan.
Set in Hong Kong
The movie tells an intense story about the craziness that happens after a powerful drug company boss dies. It is set in Hong Kong, which is totally covered in snow—a different and cool twist.
As the chairman’s youngest son attempts to break away from his family’s criminal enterprise, power battles break out inside the underground.
Leung reminisced on the production ending in 2017 after the eagerly awaited premiere brought back strong memories. After seeing the movie again, he saw his character and the plot from a different angle.
Struggles of city life
He pointed out that even though the movie looks a lot like Hong Kong, the ideas it explores about being human and the struggles of city life are things people everywhere can connect with.
Living in a modern metropolis clearly reveals the daily “rush, battles, and sufferings” that accompany it.
Mak clarified that the film’s completion took a very long time, mainly due to the pandemic’s damage to the work following filming. In addition, a ton of complicated CGI was needed.
In addition, it was a real challenge to make Hong Kong look snowy since it’s usually pretty warm there! Amazingly, they actually created most of the snow—about 80%—right there on set and only used digital effects for the rest.
Try something fresh
Mak said he saw Sons of the Neon Night as a chance to shake up the usual crime movie and try some different things. He admitted that making another Rigor Mortis—his first movie—would have been the more straightforward path. “But,” he added, “I wanted to explore something new and find my truth as a filmmaker.”
Making the movie was a real battle against the weather! They started filming in Hong Kong during a scorching summer—can you imagine the actors wearing thick winter coats in that 30°C heat?
Then, they had to film in South Korea when it was absolutely freezing—the middle of winter! Leung was impressed with how calm and collected Mak stayed through it all, especially since those crazy temperature changes were taking a toll on the actors.
The film also features music from the incredibly talented, and sadly missed, Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Mak fondly recalled their collaboration as “magical,” especially during a six-hour session in Tokyo, during which they shaped the movie’s core sound. Apparently, Sakamoto was really inspired by the film’s unique snowy setting, which lined up with his own artistic interests.
How vital movie theatres are
Later, at Cannes, both Mak and Leung emphasized how vital movie theaters are.
They urged everyone to return to seeing films on the big screen together. Leung put it beautifully: “Cinemas allow hundreds to gather and breathe together, sharing the director’s dream.”
He emphasised that even though streaming is so popular now, we shouldn’t forget how special it is to connect with others through the unique experience of watching a movie in a cinema.