BLUE ISLAND: screening introduction BY DIANA CHEUNG
BLUE ISLAND
Thank you for inviting me to introduce this stunning and poignant film – Blue Island directed by Chan Tze Woon, a Hong Kong filmmaker. And, also thanks to all the people involved in Cantonese in Ireland who connected us and for all the work you are doing to promote our language here in Ireland. It is important work and it is much appreciated by so many people.
My name is Diana Cheung and I am a filmmaker from Derry. My parents immigrated to NI in the 1970s and like many other immigrants of that time, they came from rural villages in HK. At the time HK was becoming increasingly commercial and for those who had little formal education, moving to the ‘West’ seemed like a smart economic move. Many people like my parents worked mainly in the Chinese food industry, it was a gateway to survival for many of them. I know there are many people in this room that can relate.
I grew up in NI during the ‘Troubles’. As kids we didn’t know what the conflict was about and we didn’t dare ask. The Chinese community in NI kept 'themselves to themselves' and never got involved in politics. This was a means of survival, but consequently the community was excluded from mainstream politics. We were not represented in the media over the years and today we are relatively under the radar. That’s why the work through the film community is important. To help share our stories and give our community a much needed voice. And to connect us with the other communities and break down stereotypes that harm us.
Being from NI the question of identity is an important one. Identity and belonging are universal themes and these themes are explored from a range of perspectives in this film, Blue Island. For the contributors the main questions threading through this story….what does it mean to be a Hong Konger? What does HK mean to them?
The director Chan Tze Woon cleverly delivers a film that compares past and present political events using a hybrid approach to storytelling – meaning actual observational footage of the recent HK protests is intertwined with dramatisation of the past using actors and cinematography associated with fiction film. The actors are also the young people currently involved in the recent political unrest. As a director with experience in documentary and drama, the increasingly popular hybrid storytelling is very appealing to me. The technique is both unique and effective and allows the audience to ‘be in the moment’ with these characters. This type of storytelling without doubt keeps you emotionally connected to the themes. As you will see in the film, the director artistically portrays these historical cross overs using an intergenerational approach so the film appeals to audiences of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
Whatever your own personal views are of Hong Kong’s past and future you will be guaranteed something from Blue Island, and that is walking away with some questions. What does identity mean to me as an Irish born Chinese person or Irish based Chinese person? And how do we fit into this narrative or do we fit in at all? And for me, as someone growing up during the NI conflict and not feeling fully part of that story – the political situation in HK gives me a similar feeling – not quite involved but have a strong empathy for those who have been affected and continue to be affected by the ongoing HK question.
I hope you will be moved as much as I was when I first watched this film. Enjoy!
Diana Cheung
02 April 2023
Diana Cheung is a filmmaker from Derry, Northern Ireland. She has experience in writing, producing and directing, and works across documentary and drama. Her latest film The Girl with the Lion, a short drama funded by NI Screen and produced by Tara Hegarty, is in post-production. Currently, Diana is in development for her first feature documentary Chinese Takeaway Kids, a film about the Chinese community in Ireland.