Brandon Li's Hong Kong Strong: A Hypnotic Video Journey Through the City's Contradictions
Filmmaker Brandon Li, a Cantonese globetrotter, released 'Hong Kong Strong' in 2016, a site-specific video capturing the city's eclectic mix of superstition and ultra-modernity. Structured in three movements, the film transitions from rooftop views to peripheral slums and private bedrooms, showcasing luxury alongside extreme poverty. Shot before Chinese New Year, it features traditional costume dances as key narrative elements. Li leveraged family connections to overcome Asian reticence, enabling intimate access. The video includes a commentary track where Li discusses techniques and equipment. The work highlights Hong Kong's unresolved gap between ancient history and colonial past, blending ritual and modernity into a contradictory whole.
Key facts
- Brandon Li is a Cantonese globetrotter filmmaker.
- Hong Kong Strong was released in 2016.
- The film is structured in three movements.
- It was shot before Chinese New Year.
- Li used family connections to gain access.
- The video includes a director's commentary.
- The film contrasts luxury and poverty.
- It explores the fusion of superstition and ultra-modernity.
Entities
Artists
- Brandon Li
- Federica Polidoro
Institutions
- Artribune
Locations
- Hong Kong
- China