Activists campaigning for inmates' rights say the film was denied pole position to avoid embarrassing Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who will open the festival. Not so, says Lo. He insists artistic merit was a key factor, as was the fact that the film had been screened before. Instead, the gala opens with director Yonfan's lush take on the esthetics of kunqu opera, Peony Pavilion . Whatever the truth, the debate further dims the government-funded festival's image.
Insiders say the core problem is too many layers of bureaucracy.
Film experts' selections must go through middle managers for endorsement by the top brass. That's what happened in 1998, when programmers created a section on the handover of the SAR to Chinese sovereignty including a documentary by pro-democracy legislator Christine Loh. Hong Kong officials tried to scotch the show, but later backed down after directors threatened a boycott. Artistic interference finally proved too much for two veteran members of the programming committee. The solution, say local film buffs, is to make the Hong Kong festival independent, in line with others around the world.