Maggie Cheung: Films of Romance, Melancholy and Magic
In September, BFI London are showcasing a season of Maggie Cheung films
Though perhaps best known for her collaborations with Wong Kar Wai, Maggie Cheung has an impressively wide-ranging filmography and is one of cinema’s most luminous stars.
Maggie Cheung’s entry into film began with a plethora of roles in fun 80s Hong Kong comedy and action films such as Jackie Chan’s Police Story, but her dramatic breakthrough came with Wong Kar Wai’s As Tears Go By. This working relationship became the most notable of her career, as together they crafted beloved heroines of passionate, restrained romance. Yet Cheung’s filmography is defined by her versatility. It bursts with many distinctive auteurs including Stanley Kwan, Ann Hui, and Olivier Assayas, telling complex stories of displacement, identity and femininity, while also taking wildly entertaining turns in big-scale fantasy epics from directors like Johnnie To and Tsui Hark. Sparkling through a range of genres and languages, Cheung is simultaneously a sensitive performer and an irresistible comedienne, carrying the aura and presence of a classic film star. From lovers to warriors, reptiles to rock stars, join us as we journey through the magic of some of her greatest performances.
More info on the BFI website