23rd New York Asian Film Festival

July 12-28, 2024

Photo: ©2024 Cockobot Limited

World Premiere

For Alice

給愛麗絲

A compact neo-noir bathed in neon and shadows, Chow Kam Wing's chamber piece resurrects Hong Kong's pulp tradition with arthouse flair. Unfolding in the faded opulence of Tsim Sha Tsui's Mirador Mansion, it charts an unlikely bond between grizzled veteran Tai Bo and rising star Kuku So—he a mysterious rescuer, she a teenager running away from her mother's abusive partner. At first Alice (the Wonderland echoes ring deliberately) rebuffs her grizzled savior's gallantry. But their shared loneliness catalyzes a fraught rapprochement amid the mansion's crimson-lit maze. Chow wields colorful yet noirish atmospherics with a maestro's command, the dank stairwells and flickering fluorescents conjuring palpable peril. As this intricate two-hander hurtles toward its cathartic climax, you'll be gasping—not just from the suspense, but from sensing the new lifeblood pulsing through the story. In the live wire intensity between Chow's protagonists burns the fierce promise of the arthouse's inheritance of Hong Kong's pulp legacy.

Director: Chow Kam Wing
Producer: Tang Hon Hung
Screenwriter: Lam Tsz Ki
Cast: Tai Bo, Kuku So
Languages: Cantonese with English subtitles
2024; 82 min.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday July 13, 3:45pm
Film at Lincoln Center

Intro and Q&A with director Chow Kam Wing, screenwriter Lam Tsz Ki, and cast members Tai Bo and Kuku So

Lam Tsz Ki
林芷淇
Chow Kam Wing
Chow Kam Wing

Chow Kam Wing initially pursued a career at a 4A advertising agency before shifting gears to join The Film Factory, a film production company. There, he assumed the role of an advertising director, primarily focusing on commercial shoots. For Alice marks his maiden venture into feature-length filmmaking.



Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award
Tai Bo
太保

Tai Bo started in the film industry behind the scenes and first appeared on screen as a stuntman, eventually earning a coveted place on Jackie Chan’s team. Proving his natural talent, he transitioned to an award-winning acting career and has become an indispensable presence in Hong Kong cinema. He has also worked in Taiwan, including a memorable role in Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s A City of Sadness (1989). Tai Bo garnered multiple awards and accolades for his outstanding performance in Ray Leung’s Twilight’s Kiss (_Suk _Suk, 2019). He returned in a pivotal supporting part in Yeung’s latest film, _All Shall Be _Well, which won the Teddy Bear Award at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival. Some of his other striking performances in recent years include The Brink (NYAFF 2017), Hand Rolled Cigarette (NYAFF 2020), The Silent Forest (NYAFF 2020) and Coffin Homes (NYAFF 2021).

Kuku So
蘇子茵

Kuku So Tsz Yan specialized in photography while in school, and following her graduation, embarked on a career in the industry, initially working behind the scenes. However, her talent was soon discovered and with her exceptional skills, Kuku quickly established herself as a prominent figure in the industry, excelling in both still modeling and acting. She is the star of For Alice (2024).