Tin Shui Wai a.k.a. City of Sadness

Day 16, Film 16

Laurence Lau's CITY BESIEGED and Ann Hui's THE WAY WE ARE, two diametrically-opposed films about life in Tin Shui Wai, prompted me to go to this often-villified new town in the New Territories and take a look for myself.

For those not in the know, Tin Shui Wai, which is often referred to as the City of Sadness, is basically Hong Kong's most notorious 'projects,' where all sorts of unspeakable horrors are said to exist.

In fact, like many 'villified 'hoods,' it's also a place where tens of thousands of ordinary working people live with the humdrum routine of daily life.

If you haven't been there, it's worth making a trip. The light rail at Tin Shui Wai is very cool. There's one that runs in a circle. I rode the loop three times. Very pleasant.

This is my film koan about Tin Shui Wai, shot at Tin Yiu Estate.




Enjoy!!!