‘Macao: Back to Common Roots Narrative Film’ premiered yesterday afternoon at the MGM Theatre in MGM COTAI.
Local artist Lok Hei and MGM cooperated to showcase the film in commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland. The 28-minute film features Macau’s transformation during the past five centuries, with the region’s historical development shown through paintings and visual effects on the theatre’s ultra-HD LED screen.
A number of guests attended the premiere such as former chief executive and National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CCPPC) Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U on behalf of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, Liaison Office Deputy Director Yan Zhichan and Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa, as well as MGM President and Chief Strategic and Financial Officer Kenneth Feng Xiaofeng.
An MGM statement noted that the film has been organised by the Macau Cultural Development Promotion Association in conjunction with the resort operator, and is sponsored by the Bank of China Macau Branch. It is also supported by various other entities such as the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC).
Speaking with reporters after the premiere, Lok, who is the film’s executive producer, said that the film aims to showcase Macau’s history and how the merging of both Chinese and Western cultures relate to it.
Lok added that he was happy to be part of the project, seeing it as an opportunity as there haven’t been many pictures to record Macau’s history, which he wants more people to know about.
Regarding the most challenging part of the film’s preparation, Lok remarked that the research about Macau’s history was amongst the most difficult. He noted that a lot of research was needed to create the historical sights on screen as many of the city’s streets and places no longer exist.
With free admission for ticket holders, the film can be seen between January 23 and the end of this year. The date and time of each show will be announced on the 15th of each month. The statement underlined that the show will first be open to education institutions, government entities and community associations.
Ticket reservations and enquiries can be made by contacting Kong Seng’s ticketing hotline on 8295 5838.
Pansy Ho Chiu King, co-chairperson and executive director of MGM China Holdings Limited, addressed the premiere by video link, saying that “as an enterprise rooted in Macau, MGM has been committed to perpetuating the spirit of ‘Loving the Motherland and Loving Macau’, the key of which lies in bolstering patriotic education for the youth.”
There are two versions of the film – a Cantonese version with Chinese and Portuguese subtitles, and a Putonghua version with Chinese and English subtitles.
Portuguese seafarers arrived in Macau in the mid-16th, after which the centuries-old fishing village developed into a Sino-Western entrepot for commerce as well as a place for cultural exchanges between the Orient and the Occident.
Local artist and “Macao: Back to Common Roots Narrative Film” Executive Producer Lok Hei speaks with reporters after the premiere at the MGM Theatre in MGM COTAI. Photos:Rui Pastorin
The film shows the point in history when Macau “returned into the arms of the motherland”.
The film also shows the period in history when Vice-Roy Lin Zexu banned opium in Guangzhou in June 1839.
