Before the Box Gets Emptied
Ho Sze Wai
Hong Kong / Col / 29'57"/ In Cantonese and English with Chinese and English subtitles
For sixth grader Marco, the minutiae of life revolve around taking the light rail with his best friend Chris and their Beyblade battles. But just like the Beyblades that spin in unpredictable directions, Chris is embarking on a different path. Before Chris's departure, they continue to linger around the neighbourhood playing with friends, uncertain about the future and how to say farewell.
Artist's Statement
Life is hardship, I wanted to record how the current Hong Kong feel like so I wrote this story. Even this work is a self-indulging murmur, it is still a record of me and all my talented friends. Thank for everything.
Juror's Comment
The story has a faint sense of powerlessness, and even primary school students can't wait to lose their endless power. I especially like the use of voice-over in the film, which adds a bit of humour, fantasy and romance to the story. At the end of the film, Marco drives the paper light rail No. 505 to send Chris to Australia and broadcast as the captain, "I will talk to you again before we reach our destination. Please don't forget me. See you soon." (Jacqueline Liu)
