A film on the pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 has broken a box office record in Taiwan for an overseas Chinese-language documentary within the first fortnight of its release.
Revolution of Our Times, directed by Hong Kong film-maker Kiwi Chow and which premiered at the Cannes film festival last year, has grossed around $17m NTD (US$600,000) as of Wednesday, the film’s distributor said.
Released in Taiwan on 25 February, the film has been screened at about 40 cinemas across Taiwan, with some patrons booking out entire cinemas to screen the film for free. It has even drawn the support of the president, Tsai Ing-wen.
“The Hong Kong people’s courage & commitment to democracy are an inspiration to us all, as we work to preserve our own freedoms & way of life,” Tsai tweeted on Wednesday.
The documentary chronicles the months of mass demonstrations in Hong Kong which saw millions take to the streets to march against a proposed extradition law that many feared would have exposed Hongkongers to China’s opaque legal system.
The protests, which sometimes descended into violent clashes between young protesters and police, prompted Beijing to impose a national security law that observers say has been used to quash any signs of dissent and dismantle the city’s civil society.
Chow, who has remained in Hong Kong and has not been able to view his own film in a cinema, described the film’s success in Taiwan as a source of comfort. “It’s almost like a type of embrace … that so many are willing to listen to the will and desire of Hongkongers. I feel a sense of comfort, a sense of power in our unity.”
He added that he was both envious and grateful. No public screenings have been possible in Hong Kong due to the national security law.
“As the director of the Revolution of Our Times, I’ve never been able to see my own creation on the big screen. So I’m very envious of the Taiwanese and people abroad who can watch it in a cinema … I also hope that I can watch it with everyone on the big screen. I look forward to that day,” he said.
The aftermath of Hong Kong’s protests have been warily watched from across the Taiwan strait, where some Taiwanese saw a warning for their own future. China’s president, Xi Jinping, has vowed to “unify” Taiwan with China, by force if necessary.
“I think with these screenings, the most important thing isn’t to get people to focus on Hong Kong, the most important is that they are focused on Taiwan, their home,” Chow said.
Screenings of the documentary are also being held in various cities across the UK and Canada. The film-maker said he hoped the film could have meaning and value to people everywhere. “Even in democratic countries, freedom can be lost,” he said.
