Hong Kong has selected a successful local success “The Last Dance” as a submission for the best category of international feature films to the 98th Academy Awards.
Directed, produced and co-written by Anselm Chan, the film features the cantonaise comedy icons Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, alongside Michelle Wai and Chu Pak Hong. He follows a marriage planner who pivots the funeral sector during the pandemic and joined forces with a Taoist ritual master, triggering a history on family distance, tradition and reconciliation.
“The Last Dance” is the most profitable local release in Hong Kong and won 18 nominations at Hong Kong Film Awards, linking the record for most of the lead nods in a year.
“Chan’s third feature film, designed by Chan, is a poignant drama on the search for meaning in life from the death of his loved ones and the rituals of the final farewells,” wrote Richard Kuipers, revising the film for Variety. “For those who instantly associate the priests with Taoist films with vampires to jump and hungry ghosts from Hong Kong Gong-sin The peak of horror comedy of the 1980s (like “M. Vampire” and “Kung Fu Zombie”), “The Last Dance” offers an attractive and insightful look at the daily life and the work of these religious and community leaders. »»
Hong Kong has submitted films for the category of international features since 1959, but has not yet won. The region obtained the nominations three times – in 1991 to “make the red lantern” by Zhang Yimou, in 1993 for “Farewell My Concubine” by Chen Kaige and in 2020 for “Better Days” by Derek Tsang. Wong Kar-Wai’s “The Grandmaster” made the limited list in 2013.
The list of international Oscars will be announced on December 16 and the last five nominees will be announced on January 22.
