The Grass is Greener on the Other Side 《野草不盡》
Role: Director, Cinematographer & Editor
Project type: Indie Documentary
Length: 73 mins
Production Year: 2020 - 2022
Premiere Year: 2022
In the aftermath of the 2019 protests, Hongkongers are leaving by the thousands to the UK. They look for a free future, but are encumbered by the guilt of abandoning their homeland. The film explores Hongkongers’ struggle with post-traumatic anxieties and the tension between one’s identity and role in an evolving society.
In exile, can the Hongkonger identity persevere, or is it destined to obscurity? How can one move on from collective trauma? Where can they truly find home?
This film had it world premiere at the 13th Taiwan International Documentary Festival, Nominee for TIDF Visionary Award. It was selected for the Asian Competition at the 14th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival.
身在異土卻惦念家鄉,身在家鄉卻想著出走。
《野草不盡》以兩個香港人為群像,貼身拍攝他們遷移英國之際,經歷複雜的情緒和掙扎。少年告別同窗好友,心負倖存者的內疚,在英國漫步遼闊的草原。年輕爸爸迎接在港出生的兒子,抱著不忿而舉家移英。身兼父親和港人兩種身份,他又如何面對他下一代對身份認同的焦慮。
縱然迷惘,生活卻要向前走。身份認同與社會角色之間的矛盾,是經歷2019年香港反修例運動的港人,回到現實的日常問題。
兩人來到六月的倫敦集會──是安撫創傷,還是舊瓶新酒?香港人在海外尋求意義,他們能否成為具影響力的離散族群?香港人身份,能否散落世界,還是注定被遺忘?來到新國土,他們又能否視之為家?
道別之際,扎根之前,野草將生而不盡。