MOVIE MONDAYS: FLOWING STORIES

If there is one aspect about films I like it is getting to see and know more about parts of the world  I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting. This year, the Cornerhouse is hosting the Hong Kong Film Programme forAsia Triennial Manchester 14 and I have had the opportunity to see a couple of great films- one of them being Flowing Stories by Jessey Tsang. Last Wednesday was the UK premiere of Flowing Stories and I am so glad I went along as it really did open my eyes to a part of the world that would have otherwise been unknown to me.

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 Grandma Lau, Flowing Stories // Source: River Vision Production

Flowing Stories was a breath of fresh air in comparison to the kind of films I normally see. Being a documentary, the element of reality made it an even more gripping story. Real stories told by real people... there is just something powerful about that.  I truly enjoyed this film and getting the chance to hear what the director had to say about her work.

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Set primarily in Ho Chung village, which is located in Hong Kong's New Territories, Flowing Stories gives us an insight into the 500 year old village and its culture through the eyes of a wonderful matriarch, Grandma Lau, and her family - some of whom live in France and in the UK. It is quite a complex tale that not only highlights how different generations view the village and its traditions but it also delves into understanding the meaning of "home" to the interviewees and the role migration plays in one's search for a place to call their own.  Directed beautifully by Jessey Tsang (Big Blue Lake; Lovers on the Road), this documentary is a collection of pictures, old videos, interviews and motion graphics (one of my favourite elements of the film) that really pull us into the past and present of Grandma Lau and her family.

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Grandma Lau is such a strong, funny and caring woman who tells it like it is. And listening to the stories she shares and her views on family, traditions and change made me think of how much of the past can be lost if one is not careful and allows themselves to be swept up with this rapidly evolving world. If you ever get the chance to see Flowing Stories I say take it and let me know the answer to this question:

What does "home" mean to you?

Mo x

P.S. It's just one of those weeks when Tuesday becomes a Monday :)