How do you make a film when the cast and crew are anonymous? Under masks, hoods, aliases and voice modulators, the creators of “Revolution of Our Times” worked undercover to bring the story of Hongkongers to a world that had seemingly forgotten them.
In 2019, the flames of the Hong Kong Democracy Movement were fueled by a national extradition bill that threatened the region’s autonomy by turning legal jurisdiction over to mainland China. In response, citizens of the region protested, and it eventually evolved into a campaign focused on the preservation of Hong Kong’s identity and their state of relative independence. However, the combined efforts of a global pandemic and an anti-sedition National Security Law silenced the movement. About two years later, director Kiwi Chow (the only crew member credited) released a documentary feature that placed viewers into the shoes of Hongkongers in the midst of political turmoil.
Following the documentary’s success at Taiwan’s 2021 Golden Horse Awards, “Revolution of Our Times” received the Grand Prize under Impact Documentary and CNC Cultural Images at the International Documentary Festival on Jan. 23, 2022.
On Dec. 14, 2021, the University of Southern California participated in the world premiere of “Revolution of Our Times.” The school held one of the first ever public screenings of the film, where Annenberg Media accessed the film.
The documentary tracks the stories of seven different protest groups as they navigated the streets of Hong Kong amidst chaos and uncertainty. It acts not only as an informative piece, tracing the lives of these activists, but shows how disjointed demonstrations united Hongkongers on an unprecedented scale.
The film begins with tragedy by showing how the state of the region had a devastating mental toll on its citizens. A series of suicides sparked the fury and anger of protesters. As the documentary displays footage of these deaths and the reactions after, one can hear sniffling and the rustling of tissues in the audience.
The documentary shows one of the significant demonstrations in the movement’s early months: the storming of the Legislative Council building after the signing of the extradition bill. Here, demonstrators were split between radicals who wanted to stand their ground and non-violent members who attempted to extract them in light of a looming police threat. While they were reluctant, the radicals would realize that the source of this concern was not out of selfishness, but out of fear of losing more lives on top of the suicides, a sentiment that would eventually bring Hongkongers of every generation to the frontlines.
After seeing the black-t-shirted, mask-wearing teens of Hong Kong take to the streets to fight, adults began mobilizing, using monikers such as “Mom” and “Dad” to chaperone protesters. Even the elderly, including wheelchair-bound citizens and the frail farmer “Uncle Chan,” sought to fight, hoping to protect Hong Kong’s youth. While this image of unity was fascinating to witness, the visceral images that followed would shake viewers to their core.
The next chapter focused on the opposition in the form of police employing tear gas, water cannons and riot gear against the angry masses. Soon, these confrontations would only grow more violent. Images flashed on the screen as the audience sat frozen, watching harrowing footage of a reporter attacked in a gang-involved incident and a man being fatally shot at close range by an officer. The initial shock of watching these distressing sequences would eventually fade through the rest of the runtime, replaced by an eerie numbness that left audiences exhausted.
War broke out in the city. One demonstrator compared it to a video game where every member of the movement had their own roles to play in repelling police forces and protecting their own. Some held umbrellas and water bottles to put out tear gas canisters. Others threw molotov cocktails into the sea of police. A couple of members provided transportation to and from protests for hasty escapes. Some also served as medical staff, bringing beaten and bloodied individuals (both protesters and bystanders caught in the crossfire) first aid.
One of the most memorable and powerful images of the documentary was a drone shot showing a mass of protesters running from police forces. The camera tracked them through the city as the group slowly flowed into different streets and dissipated. This “be water” philosophy guided them not only physically, but also in their organization, which deliberately lacked a central leader and adapted to their unpredictable circumstances.
These battles would culminate into the climax of the film set at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where students barricaded themselves within the school as the police surrounded them. While initially hopeful, demonstrators soon worried for their survival. Desperate, some tried escaping through tight sewers to little success, while others stood guard outside. Other citizens who once turned a blind eye to the conflict, however, began taking action, hoping to save those trapped in the university. Parents of young protesters and school principals entered the fray, calling out to the government to allow them to save their children in exchange for their arrest, as it was preferable to losing them to death. The incident at PolyU remains the movement’s greatest failure, yet the greatest image of their unity, as Hongkongers stood together to save one another.
Not long after, many activists were exiled, leaving to a world beyond their unrecognizable home. This diaspora seemed to signal the end of the movement; even through January 2022, outspoken supporters continued to be arrested.
As the documentary came to a close, it ended with “Glory to Hong Kong,” the anthem of the movement. While the orchestral rendition played, members of the audience, including exiled Hongkongers, joined in song. Even when far from home, the people of Hong Kong carried the spirit and legacy of a movement even in its current state of dormancy. The music faded, and the last words heard from the back of the theater were “Glory be to thee Hong Kong.”
Both therapeutic and eye-opening, “Revolution of Our Times” describes in brutal detail a great political reckoning overlooked by many overseas. As Hongkongers reflect on their trials, a new audience steps into the perspective of a revolutionary. Viewers abroad can bear witness to a critical moment in Hong Kong history through its turbulence and its unanswered cliffhanger.
“Revolution of Our Times” currently has a limited release.