James LEONG, Lynn LEE
Korean Premiere
Summer 2019. Hong Kong¡¯s leaderless pro-democracy movement stuns Beijing and captures the world¡¯s attention. ¡®If We Burn¡¯ is an urgent, immersive journey into the protests, and a meditation on what it means to resist.
In March 2019, the Hong Kong government announced amendments to the Extradition Bill. According to the proposal, forced repatriation applies to all people in Hong Kong¡¯s administrative district. Numerous Hong Kong citizens protested and claimed a complete withdrawal of the amendments, and protesters additionally claimed 4 demands against the strong suppression of Hong Kong and Chinese governments: Withdrawal of designation of Hong Kong protesters as rioters, official apology from Hong Kong police on armed suppression on protesters and installation of the independent investigation commission, release of all arrested protesters, and enforcement of direct election of Hong Kong chief executive and universal and equal election for Legislative Council. The film is a 4-hour-and-30-minute-long record focusing on the suppression and occupation of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. The film spotlights the reason why the occupation of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong is crucial. The fundamental meaning of the occupation covers all demands, and it also symbolizes the citizens¡¯ ownership of the law. What would be the answer to the phrase, ¡°If we burn,¡± written on the streets of protestors? The answer is written beside the phrase: ¡°If we burn, you will burn with us.¡± The history from below won¡¯t forget the 2019 of Hong Kong with burning awareness and struggle for the impossibility of a world without democratic citizens.
James LEONG
Collaborators for two decades, Leong and Lee have forged a reputation for their penetrating documentary work, gaining accolades from human-rights and film organisations alike.
Lynn LEE
Collaborators for two decades, Leong and Lee have forged a reputation for their penetrating documentary work, gaining accolades from human-rights and film organisations alike.