Longman Leung’s biopic follows legendary Hong Kong pop and movie diva Anita Mui from her child performer days to her death from cervical cancer in 2003, aged only 40. Like Anita herself, the film is brash and bold, but also surprisingly subtle and moving. Newcomer Louise Wong excels as the woman sometimes said to be Hong Kong’s Madonna, but it is the moments of documentary footage that hit home emotionally. In production for several years, Anita went straight to the top of the Hong Kong box office on its release at the end of 2021. It was also a surprise hit in the Mainland. Focusing on her charitable works as well as her entertainment career, the film emphasises that Anita is Hong Kong, and that Anita died too young.

Closing Film, Busan International Film Festival 2021

Notes by Chris Berry

The screening will be introduced by Dr. Qi Zhang, Assistant Professor, School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies (SALIS), Dublin City University 

Screening as part of the East Asia Film Festival Ireland, March 31st to April 3nd.