Cinematheque: Shanghai Blues

Hong Kong, 1984, 35mm, 103min., subtitled. In this sophisticated musical homage to classic Hong Kong comedies of the 1930s, a love triangle develops between a composer, a singer, and a girl from the country. Rarely screened, this dazzling blend of pathos and pop culture will be introduced by filmmaker and HK film aficionado Tim Hunter. “Tsui ... suggests that by reviving older traditions you don’t simply indulge in nostalgia; you link your life to a vital heritage.” (David Bordwell)