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- Movie: Revenge: A Love Story
- Chinese: 復仇者之死
- Director: Wong Ching-Po
- Writer: Lai-yin Leung, Juno Mak, Wong Ching-Po
- Producer: Conroy Chan Chi-Chung
- Cinematographer: Jimmy Wong
- World Premiere: October 22, 2010 (Hong Kong Asian Film Festival)
- Release Date: December 2, 2010
- Runtime: 95 min.
- Genre: Thriller
- Production Company: 852 Films
- Distributor: Lark Films Distribution
- Language: Cantonese
- Country: Hong Kong
Plot
Two gruesome murders occur. Both murders target police officers and their pregnant wives. In each of the murders the pregnant woman's as of yet unborn baby were removed and left to die next to their mother. The killer Kit (Juno Mak) is shortly later apprehended on a bus while trying to flee the scene of his latest murder.
Months earlier, Kit is a young man selling steamed dumplings in front of a small neighborhood grocery store. One day, he spots a young woman Wing (Sola Aoi) walking by with her grandmother. Kit falls for the woman at first sight. Wing is mentally challenged high school girl. As Kit and Wing's relationship begins to develop a brutal and tragic act of mistaken identity sets in motion a horrific cycle of violence and revenge.
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Q&A (PiFan 2011)
Q&A took place after a screening of "Revenge: A Love Story" at the 2011 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 21, 2011. Appearing on stage is main actress Sola Aoi (left), main actor Juno Mak (center) and movie director Ching-Po Wong (right). AsianWiki editor Ki Mun was there and transcribed/translated the session. *Note audience questions containing multiple questions for different speakers were broken into separate questions for sake of clarity.
- Audience Question - In a lot of Hong Kong movies, including this movie, cops are portrayed as corrupt and also people from the mainland. Are you okay with the violence level or do you think there should be a limit in Hong Kong movies?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - Corrupt cops are used as movie material because cops are supposed to protect people. That's a lie. Cops turn people into the attackers. That's why I used cops for my movie material. Any violence or cruel scenes depicted in this movie can't be more cruel than real life. What I wanted to express from real life, I can't express all in the movie. The end result is the violence level you see in the movie.
- Audience Question - In the movie, Sola Aoi speaks Chinese. Can you speak Chinese or did you memorize certain lines for the movie? Also, wile shooting was there any difficulties because of the language barrier?
- Sola Aoi (actress) - I can't speak Chinese. I did learn a little bit of Pekingese. I can't speak Cantonese at all. On the shooting set, I tried to communicate with them by using body language and English. I did have a good time there.
- Audience Question - The movie is split into chapters with quotes for each chapter. Did you write the quotes yourself or are they from another source? Also, who is your favorite director?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - We hear about real murder cases on TV and read about them in newspapers. Later, we find out the reasons behind the killings. I did write those quotes in the chapter stills to reflect something like pulling out cases by chapters. About favorite directors - I like Japanese director Shunji Iwai.
- Audience Question - You make movies from difficult materials - including this movie and some of your prior films. I wonder if there are reasons why you pick this type of material for your movies?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - I picked this movie because it was difficult to make. I like to challenge.
- Audience Question - I enjoy surprise endings. When I watched your film, it reminded me of the Korean movie "Secret Sunshine" directed by Lee Chang-Dong. The detective thought he was forgiven by believing in God, without even being forgiven by the victims. Is this possible ?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - I'm not Christian and I don't go to church. The movie was open-ended to let the audience decide whether he should be forgiven or not.
- Moderator - Main actor Juno Mak wrote the original scenario and completed the screenplay with director Ching-Po Wong. He also participated in producing the film with Ching-Po Wong.
- Audience Question - You (Juno Mak) look really young on the screen. How old are you?
- Juno Mak (actor) - I am 27 years old in Western age.
- Audience Question - I read on the internet that you (Sola Aoi) had to have dental care to come here?
- Sola Aoi (actress) - I did not get dental care to come here, but I did have a tooth pulled out and I am fine now. Thank you.
- Audience Question - In the movie, the main male character is at first very naive and a pure young man, but his character drastically changes while implementing his plan for revenge. In the middle of movie he's even mentioned as the devil. I know you participated in writing the script. Was it difficult to show such a change?
- Juno Mak (actor) - In the earlier scenes I played the character innocently to make a bigger contrast when he does implement his plan. I don't think his character is like the devil. One day, if a loved one gets hurt, anyone can turn out like him.
- Audience Question - Nowadays you (Sola Aoi) study hard to learn 3 languages, including Korean. Do you have have any plans to act in a Korean movie?
- Sola Aoi (actress) - I worked in Korea 3 years ago. At that time I had a good time, so I wanted to communicate with the people here. That's the reason I started to learn Korean. I studied Korean by myself and I'm willing to act in Korean movies.
- Audience Question - You (Ching-Po Wong) are handsome. Do you want to act or have you acted before?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - I'd like to participate in Korean movies too.
- Juno Mak (actor) - How about next time I'll direct and Ching-Po Wong will act?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - If Juno Mak directs I won't act in the movie.
- Audience Question - I watched a lot of movies from the 1980's and 1990's. Those movies dealt with corrupt cops, drugs deals and other gang related stuff. Your movie contains violence perpetrated by the public against the police. Did you have any censorship issues in Hong Kong? Also, is this movie based on an original novel?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - Hong Kong movies frm the 1980's and 1980's dealt with corrupt cops or cases involving money, but this movie deals with citizens turning into victims. This is only part of the story, so the next movie will elaborate more. There wasn't an original novel. I worked on the original story with Juno Mak.
- Audience Question - I noticed your name (Juno Mak) listed as the screenplay writer in the end credits. Are you interested in writing?
- Juno Mak (actor) - I like doing creative things like acting, writing scenarios and playing music. Fortunately, I have worked with talented people, directors and actors and that is why we have had a good results. I'd like to work with many more talented people if I get the chance.
- Audience Question - I wonder if there is a message for the audience contained in the movie? Also, why did you cast Sola Aoi as the main female character and not a Hong Kong actress?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - There isn't a specific message I want to send through the movie. In the world people have hatred. When they have hate, they face or accept the hate and through the movie I just reflect upon that. I did not leave an answer in the movie. For the main female role, I looked first at actresses from Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, but because of the movie material many actresses were reluctant to act in the movie. Casting the actress was really difficult. I then thought of AV actresses from Japan and thought they might be more willing to take on the role. I asked and got a meeting with Sola Aoi. At the first meeting I got a good feeling and decided to cast her in the role.
- Audience Question - To be honest with you I came here because of Sola Aoi. Unexpectedly, I found out the the movie is really good. You are popular here in Korea too. Do you have any favorite Korean actors? Since you have acted in mainstream movies, do you have any specific dreams or goals? Also I want to say ... Sola Aoi "Aishiteiru" ("I Love You" in Japanese).
- Sola Aoi (actress) - I like Ha Jung-Woo and about my goals ... I hope to act as an actress in more movies like this. Also to you "Saranghae" ("I Love You" in Korean).
- Audience Question - I am impressed with the chapters in the movie. I wonder whether you want to show different contents by having those chapters. Have you ever seen the movie "The Yellow Sea" by Na Hong-Jin?. I think the composition of the movie "Revenge: A Love Story" seems quite similar with "The Yellow Sea". Also, the ending scene I found quite shocking. I think the actions taken by the children was excessive. I'd like to hear your views on the ending scene.
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - I saw "The Yellow Sea" right before i came here, so it didn't influence "Revenge: A Love Story". I have watched Park Chan-Wook's movies a lot. About the ending scene, it was to signify that if we have hate and dwell on revenge, our next generation - the children - might also turn out like that.
- Audience Question - Is there a particular reason why the detective is missing in the early scenes?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - Answer to why the detective missing is ... there might be a sequel coming out.
- Audience Question - (Sola Aoi) I wonder what's your impression of Korean men?
- Sola Aoi (actress) - The image I have of Korean men is of quiet strength, treating women well and being kind.
- Moderator - Due to shortage of time of this will be the last question taken for our guests. Can we take a round of questions and have the guests answer them?
- Audience Question - I notice you still have the same shaved head style you had in the movie. Do you prefer the shaven head style? Also, do you like watching Korean movies? Do you have any favorite Korean directors? Lastly, I really like the way you are dressed. Who is the maker of your outfit?
- Audience Question - Curious if this movie was popular in Hong Kong?
- Audience Question - Do you have any other plans while in Korea except your official schedule?
- Audience Question - This movie is about revenge. What is more difficult - forgiveness or revenge?
- Audience Question - To Sola Aoi, it's been a while since you wore a high school uniform. How did it feel about that? To the director, in the scene, 5 years ago, when the ambulance crashed into a gas station. There were 6 bullets shot. In the last scene 10 bullets were shot. I wonder if the main male character bought a new gun or stole the detective's gun? If not was that a mistake?
- Ching-Po Wong (director) - About the bullets, the gun was changed so numbers of bullets is different. About the "forgiveness or revenge question" - I think forgiveness is easier. Forgiving requires one act, but revenge can involve other people and have other consequences.
- Juno Mak (actor) - Forgiveness is a good thing. I am learning forgiveness every day, over and over. About my hair style. I had long hair for awhile, but a few years ago I decided to shave my hair off. I felt so comfortable, I have kept that hair style since then. Do you think my hair style is okay? About Korean movie industry - I'm willing to work in Korean movies. Down there (points into the audience), that's my manager, so if anybody in the Korean movie business wants to work out something please contact him. About my outfit, it was designed by a friend's designer in Sweden. About Korean films - I like watching Korean films a lot. Right now I'm into Park Chan-Wook movies and I also enjoyed "The Chaser."
- Sola Aoi (actress) - Other plans in Korea while I'm here - I want to try a lot of the different food they have here. About forgiveness or revenge. Things like that happen. I might thirst for revenge, but that kind of revenge in the movie wouldn't happen in real life. Objectively, I would try to forgive, but I might still carry a grudge. My type of revenge would be more timid. About the school uniform - it has been a long time since I wore a school uniform so I was a bit worried about fitting in with my age. After filming, I think it went OK and I kind of wanted to wear the uniform all day.
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