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1984 - 1987: The
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1984: Shanghai Blues
(director, producer)
 In Shanghai, a man (Kenny Bee) and a woman (Sylvia
Chang) meet under a bridge during the World War 2. Because of darkness they can't see each
other. Ten years later the man lives in the same building than the woman, but he doesn't
recognise her...
This is a tribute to old Chinese and Hollywood comedies from the 30's and the 40's. Tsui
Hark mastered the abrupt changes in tones from fast paced and burlesque comedy to touching
emotions. He displayed as well a mix of love stories, parodies and misunderstandings. Tsui
Hark considers this movie as his favourite one and we consider it as the best example of
what the Tsui Hark cinema can offer.
1985: Working Class
(director, producer)
 A young amateur of football and pretty girls (Sam Hui) finds a
job in a food-processing factory where he meets Joey Wang, and falls in love with her. Her
father is unfortunately the boss of the factory. She finds out that Sam doesn't like rich
people and she'd do anything to hide him her true identity.
At first sight, the social satire is quite a good idea. But unfortunately Tsui Hark just
directed it as a foul comedy with no much ambition. The fame of Working Class is
really bad and one understands why: bad characters direction, a poor sense of humour, an
old-fashioned music score... There are still however some interesting ideas. Even in the
worst Tsui Hark movies there is still something to discover or to attract fans interest.
1985: In The Line Of Duty
(actor)
1985: Run, Tiger Run
(actor)
1986: Peking Opera Blues
(director, producer)
 This film deals with he destiny of 3 women (Brigitte Lin, Sally
Yeh and Cherrie Chung) in Beijing at the turn of the century where revolutionists are
opposed to a corrupted government.
Tsui Hark has created a brilliant and rich and complex and entertaining movie here. He
developed subplots, used different genres (action, drama, and comedy) and he displayed
various feelings: laughers, fear… A must to see at all costs!
1986: A Better Tomorrow
(producer)
Ho (Ti Lung) is a triad member and wants to quit because his brother (Leslie Cheung) plans
to become a cop. He fears that their own activities could divide them. He's called to make
a last deal in Taiwan, but he is arrested by the police.
The legend says that after several poor comedies, John Woo lost any hope to make a
personal movie and feared to have to carry on directing non-sensical commercial films.  John Woo was hiding in Taiwan when he received a
phone call from producer and friend Tsui Hark. He asked him to direct an action movie.
Tsui Hark wished to cast three women to play the main characters. But he let John Woo
developed his feature as he wished. John Woo was really interested to transfer the code of
the Wu Xia Pian genre (Chivalry genre) into a modern day movie, with gangsters as
swordsmen. In the end, A Better Tomorrow can be seen as one of the best Woo
movies and as one of the most successful movies produced by the film Workshop Company.
Homepage - Tsui Hark Menu - filmography menu - Top
Written
by Laurent Henry.
Freely translated and updated by Thomas, March 2002.
© HKcinemagic 2001-2002
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