Ah Kam-the Stuntwoman

A young woman who left China for Hong Kong gets work on a film shoot.
Since the reunification of Hong Kong with The People's Republic of China coincided with the shooting of many of the films that came out of Hong Kong last year, it is perhaps not surprising that so many of them - including ”Viva Erotica” , which has been shown at so many festivals - are set inside the film industry, given all the opportunities for reflection and retrospection that this would afford. With regard to the female director, Ann Hui, there is another angle to consider, since she, despite all her festival awards and critical acclaim, has had trouble financing her films. It is usually the case in Hong Kong's film world, that those who finance the films also tend to interfere in the creative process. Hui can hardly feel much optimism in the face of Beijing's new position of authority considering that, while on a shoot on the mainland, she had a full day's footage seized for review by the censors .
”Ah Kam - The Stuntwoman” is basically a melodrama in which the protagonist's temporary job on a film shoot - a job she got for her abilities in Kung Fu - provides interesting insight into Hong Kong's film world. There are a few obvious elements, like miserly producers, directors who always need just one more take, lead actresses with diva pretensions and, of course, the camaraderie that exists within the film's exclusively male stunt team, of which Ah Kam becomes a permanent member following a trial period. That Samo Hung plays the leader of the team is no accident. Since the 1970's this Buddha-like man (trained, like Jackie Chan, in all the skills of the Peking Opera) has been a fixture in Hong Kong's film world as a stunt man, actor, director and producer. He has made films of his own, as well as doing action scenes in other people's films, including most recently ”Tsui Hark's” underrated American debut ”Double Team” (1997).
Michelle Yeoh (or Khan as she calls herself here) returns in the lead role,
to the - here somewhat romanticised - existence she led before her breakthrough that made her one of the former crown colony's greatest female stars. She displays an acting ability and charisma that should serve her well in her coming international career.
Jan Elvsén

Premiärstatus
Nordisk premiär: Orig. titel
Ah kam: Medverkande
Michelle Yeoh,Samo Hung,Jimmy Wong: Producent
David Lau,Catherine Hun: Manus
John Chan Kin-Chung: Musik
Otomo Yoshihide: Talat språk
Cantonese/English with Chinese/English subtitles