8. "My Flying Family" from 1:99 short films (2003), by Wong Tsz Ki Jackie 1178660

"My Flying Family"

By Mabel Cheung & Alex Law

presented on 26th March, 2009


1:99 Short Films Initiative

Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers launched this non-profitable peogramme unnder the

support of the government in 2003. The action aimed at cheering up Hong Kong people who

were facing the SARS crisis. These films were shown in Singapore, Malaysia, the U. S.,
Taiwan, etc.

Representation of SARS/Themes

1. SARS as storm

~ the boy picks up a flower from a pool of water on the ground

~ gives us a sense that there was rain or even a destructive storm before

~ the flower(looks like Bauhinia) might symbolizes HK attacked by a storm(SARS)

2. Encouragement to HK people

~ depicts ‘success’ as ‘flying

~ medical professionals arrive from a helicopter as flying-men

~ telling people not to be afraid of falling to the bottom because: “All flights start from the

ground!”

3. Appreciation of medical workers

~ thank all those who work in the hospital

~ no matter they are famous senior doctors(those high up the sky) or simply cleaning workers in the hospitals(those down on the ground)

~ a challenge to the conventional hierachical perception

4. Expectation on the new generation

~ the boy use 'flying' to describe his family; proud of the old generation who all lived a difficult life

~ children and young people could learn from the children of the old generation to become tough and strong

Question

SARS is always being said to be a monster-like virus but are there any postive aspects that it

might brought to us?