The Cinema of Evans Chan: Art, History and Identity

 “With his poetic sensibility, penetrating observations, and formal originality, Evans Chan has emerged as the true intellectual auteur with a unique vision of history in contemporary Chinese cinema,” wrote renowned Taiwanese critic/producer Peggy Chiao.  For Gina Marchetti (Postmodern Culture), Evans Chan’s work conjures up the vision of a diasporic intellectual, who traverses “nations, cultures, languages… pointing to a new type of cultural sphere that moves through and beyond Greater China.” 

Raised in Macao and Hong Kong and now based in New York, Chan has presented, in both fiction and documentary features over more than two decades, an alternative exploration of key moments in Hong Kong and global Chinese culture — from his most recent critical hit, Datong: The Great Society, a thought-provoking re-examination of the official narratives of the 1911 Revolution, to his directorial debut To Liv(e) in which he explores the plight of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong, and finally an exploration of artistic crossover and global Chinese identity in the exquisite musical performance of Margaret Leng Tan in Sorceress of the New Piano.

We are delighted to announce that Evans Chan will be present to introduce all three screenings and participate in post-screening discussions led by guest hosts.

PROGRAMME:

Thursday 17 March, 20.00 – 22.30

DATONG: THE GREAT SOCIETY [2011, 118 mins]

In Cantonese, Mandarin, English and French with Chinese and English subtitles

Hailed as a masterpiece, Datong: The Great Society focuses on modern China's first major utopian philosopher and earliest constitutional reformer, Kang Youwei (Liu Kai-chi) and his pioneering feminist daughter Kang Tongbi (Lindzay Chan).

Kang and his daughter fled into exile for 16 years following the Qing government’s bloody crackdown on the political reform he initiated in 1889. Framed around their Swedish soujourn (1904 – 1908), Evans Chan’s docu-drama recounts Kang’s epic struggle to modernise China and his dream of Datong - the Chinese utopia.

Evans Chan will introduce the film and Dr Shirley Ye of the Department of History at University of Birmingham will host a post-screening discussion.

Booking: £7.60/ 5.50. Book to reserve your place.

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Friday 18 March, 14.00

TO LIV(E) [1992, 107 mins]

in Cantonese and English with Chinese and English subtitles

Long considered an underground classic, Evan Chan’s widely acclaimed directorial debut is inspired by Norwegian actress, Liv Ullmann’s, visit to Hong Kong in 1990, where she decried the forced deportation of Vietnamese refugees.

Following the life of protagonist Rubie, and capturing the bohemian fringe of the Hong Kong arts scene, Chan examines love, family, the fate of Hong Kong, and the culture clash between East and West with depth and assurance. 

Evans Chan will introduce the film and Hermann Aubié, PhD Candidate in the Centre for East Asian Studies at the University of Turku, Finland, will host a discussion after the film.

Booking: £7.60/ 5.50. Book to reserve your place.

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Saturday 19 March, 20.00 – 22.30

SORCERESS OF THE NEW PIANO – THE ARTISTRY OF MARGARET LENG TAN [2004, 90 mins]

In English with Chinese subtitles

Ten years in the making, Chan's documentary celebrates the trans-cultural career of Singapore-born, New York-based pianist Margaret Leng Tan. Hailed by The New Yorker as "the diva of avant-garde pianism", Tan was the world's first professional toy pianist and has been a preeminent performer of John Cage’s music for the last three decades. 

Chan's “exemplary documentary” (Time Out Film Guide) makes avant-garde music — that of George Crumb, Philip Glass, Tan Dun, Somei Satoh, and others — engaging and exciting. 

Evans Chan will introduce the film and Dr Richard Langley of the Department of Film at University of Birmingham, will host a post-screening discussion.

Venue: mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH

Booking: £7.60/ 5.50. Book to reserve your place.

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Presented by Department of History, in partnership with mac birmingham with support from the China Institute and Cultural Engagement at University of Birmingham as part of Arts & Science Festival 2016, a week-long celebration of ideas, research and collaboration across campus.