Interview with HK filmmaking maestro Johnnie To
- By Tom Cunliffe
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 25, 2015
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Johnnie To is discussing his craft and career at the 'BAFTA A Life in Pictures' event. [Photo/China.org.cn] |
"If you just make personal films, then your boss and your sponsors start getting very afraid and quite nervous so I find that this is a good balance, being able to make both kinds of film. We can make some money for our bosses with the commercial romantic comedies, but we also get to do our own personal projects, and make the films that we really want to make. I think we are very lucky we can do this, and I hope we can continue this balance."
To's narrative style is at times very oblique, preferring to let the audience work out what's happening rather than spell it out for them. This happens especially in the wonderful "Throwdown," (2004), a joyous, life-affirming film about chasing your dreams that mixes comedy, musical-like fight sequences, judo, miraculous moments of wonder, and tragedy, into an unclassifiable brew. The film features Louis Koo, who is slowly turning blind, but the film depicts this so subtly that it is easy to miss this crucial detail on first viewing. Why? To's answer reveals his filmmaking philosophy towards his characters in his more personal films and how important depicting life in all its colours is to him:
"I think that if you knew from the very beginning, or made it clear that Louis Koo's character was becoming blind, it would make the story too easy. There are lots of elements about people that you don't see. Somebody could have a lot of problems that you never really see on the surface, especially psychological problems. It is not until you spend a lot of time with them and get to know them that their problems come to the surface and you actually see who they are. Some people do in fact need to see the film twice before they get that he is turning blind, and some people may never realise it because perhaps they don't see it again... I don't really mind if people don't get it the first time."
This may be the reason why his films have garnered such acclaim and popularity with both fans and critics. His action set-pieces are meticulous, whilst the characters fighting in them are fleshed out human beings who To empathises with, whichever side of the law they are on.
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