"Crouching Tiger" makes HK award killing
( 2001-04-30 11:23 ) (7 )

Ang Lee reacts after winning awards for Best Director and Best Film at the 20th Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony April 29, 2001. Lee won the awards for his movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". [Reuters]

Lavish martial arts fantasy "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" made a killing at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday, sweeping half of its 16 categories, including the top honours of best picture and best director.

"This award is for everyone," said Taiwan-born Ang Lee as he accepted the best director award for the kung-fu epic which won four Oscars in March.

"Crouching Tiger" also won for its cinematography, action choreography, sound design, supporting actress, original film score and original film song.

The other big winner was "In the Mood for Love", which grabbed five prizes, including the coveted best actor and actress.

The two internationally acclaimed films, which have scored big with audiences outside Asia, are expected to boost confidence in Hong Kong film making after Sunday's recognition.

Hong Kong's once-thriving film industry is beginning to recover after years of struggle.

Rampant piracy and gangsters muscling in on production led to a rapid decline in quality and an exodus of talent around the time of Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China in 1997.

"MOOD FOR LOVE" TAKES ACTING HONOURS

It was a double victory for 38-year-old heartthrob Tony Leung, who won best actor at the Cannes Film Festival last year.

"Thank you, Wong Kar-wai, thank you," Leung mumbled in the shortest acceptance speech of the night, referring to the arthouse director of the movie, which was shot mainly in the hallways of a dilapidated Hong Kong apartment block.

The film, a romance set in the 1960s about two neighbours trapped in a web of infidelity, also made Maggie Cheung Hong Kong's best actress for the fifth time.

Cheung, who is mostly based in Paris where she lives with her French director husband, was not at the glittering ceremony.

But it was artist William Chang who was the biggest individual winner - he took home three of the five prizes won by "In the Mood for Love".

He pipped Oscar winner Tim Yip to win best art direction as well as best film editing for a movie which took 15 months to make.

He also won best costume make up design for the countless stunning cheongsams worn by Maggie Cheung in the film, which has revived interest in the traditional figure-hugging Chinese dresses.

SUPPORTING ROLES

Adding to his Oscar success, Peter Pau bagged best cinematography for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", which was shot in more than 100 locations on mainland China.

"My feeling in winning this is the same as winning the Oscar because Hong Kong is my home," said Pau as he thrust his prized statuette into the air, triggering wild applause from the audience.

Veteran kung-fu actress Chang Pei Pei took best supporting actress for her role as the evil teacher and nanny who was later surpassed by her protege in "Crouching Tiger".

The best newcomer award was won by Qin Hailu, from Beijing, for her role as a prostitute in "Durian, Durian", a drama about a mainland Chinese girl who travels to Hong Kong under the guise of a tourist.

Exploring cross-border issues between Hong Kong and China, "Durian, Durian" also won best screenplay for director Fruit Chan.

Francis Ng, touted by some film buffs as the dark horse who could clinch best actor for "Juliet in Love", had to contend with best supporting actor in "AD 2000".

(Agencies)