From Women to Red Rose White Rose, the actresses in Stanley Kwan’s early films had starring roles where they were more than just ‘vases’
- ‘Women’s director’ Stanley Kwan Kam-pang’s films in the 1980s often centred on female characters, exploring their personal relationships and sexuality
- Maggie Cheung put in an award-winning performance in Full Moon in New York, while adult-film star Veronica Yip played against type in Red Rose White Rose
Filmmaker Stanley Kwan Kam-pang was often referred to as a “women’s director” during the 1980s, a description he happily accepted. Movies such as 1985’s Women centred on female characters, exploring their personal relationships and sexuality.
Kwan, who is gay, has said that his own sexuality influenced his choice of subject matter, and he has also noted that the fact he was very close to his mother – his father died when Kwan was 13 – may have influenced the kind of films he made.
Women (1985)
Women was unusual for a Hong Kong film in 1985, as it was a mature look at the lives of middle-class women which did not shrink from discussing their sexual desires and personal problems.
Women stands in stark contrast to the commercial comedies of the mid-1980s, which at best regarded women as set decoration – or “vases”, as they were called – and at worst as subjects to be ridiculed or fondled.
“Writers Lai Kit and Chiu Kang-chien attempt to explore the world of the man-less female,” said the Post review in 1985. “It’s an admirable subject for a movie, and one which is dealt with well. A highly commended film from Stanley Kwan, which shows he has great potential.”
