Hong Kong 1941 is a drama about life under Japanese occupation in World War II. It is nice to see Chow Yun-fat in a drama before he became an action hero. You still see that charisma when he looks death in the eye.
Eureka’s new Blu-ray looks fantastic. It’s a 1984 film but set in the ‘40s so not only does it look accurate but it is vivid with ‘80s cinematography.
Eureka loaded the Blu-ray with bonus features too. Chow and co-star Cecilia Yip give archival interviews, including one by Chow in English that must’ve been while he was making American films.
New bonus features include Tony Rayns giving historical and political context both for 1941, and the 1984 negotiations with Margaret Thatcher. Director Po-Chih Leong gives a new interview and a Masterclass Q&A discussing his experiences in the film industry.
Then of course Frank Djeng does a commentary, so it’s nice to see dramas getting the same in-depth treatment as Eureka’s martial arts movies.