On December 14th, the documentary film “Rather be ashes than dust” had its North American premiere at the Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas in Los Angeles. The producer Nancy Tong participated in a post-screening discussion where audience members were moved to tears, some even softly singing along to “Glory to Hong Kong.” The film ended with thunderous applause from the entire audience.
According to Charles Lam, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Forum in Los Angeles (HKFLA), “Rather be ashes than dust” directed by Alan Lau, depicts the raw footage captured by Lau during the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests as an independent journalist. Lau himself became a target of indiscriminate attacks by the Hong Kong police during the filming, leading to him developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The film offers audiences an up-close perspective on the events of the movement through Lau’s eyes.
Nancy Tong shared an anecdote about her initial viewing of Lau’s footage, where she was so engrossed that she forgot to turn off the faucet in her kitchen, resulting in a humorous mishap. She emphasized the importance of presenting the material in its most authentic form, retaining the rawness of the original footage with its imperfections and shaky visuals to convey the raw emotions and urgency to the audience – providing a brutally honest and realistic reflection in “Rather be ashes than dust.”
The film’s title derives from a line by Jack London: “Rather be ashes than dust. Rather be a splendid meteor, a flame in the heavens, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” Mr. Lam explained that the distinction between ashes and dust lies in the fact that ashes have experienced burning, scattering after the glow fades, but that doesn’t signify the end of combustion. As long as the fire within remains alive, it can ignite again with the wind – akin to the enduring courage of the people of Hong Kong despite the passage of the controversial national security law.
“Rather be ashes than dust” reflects the sentiment of Hongkongers defending their homeland, with even the young protesters quietly cleaning the streets after the confrontations because they want to preserve the true essence of Hong Kong. While the documentary captures tear gas flying, police violence, and numerous confrontations, there are also heartwarming and humorous moments, such as businesses selling tear gas-flavored ice cream and chefs at the Polytechnic University cooking for the youth protesters.
Veteran media personality Cheng Xiang expressed that while he had seen many TV clips of the 831 Prince Edward MTR station incident, “Rather be ashes than dust” provided a more detailed and emotionally heavy account. Cheng stated, “Hong Kong has been strangled by the national security law.” Regarding the recent conviction of seven defendants in the violent Yuen Long station mob attack, he likened the enforcement and judicial process in Hong Kong to that of Nazi-era judges, focusing solely on legal rulings without considering the underlying violence by the “white-clad” individuals.
In the aftermath of World War II, the Nuremberg trials condemned Nazi judges for “judicial murder” for faithfully executing Nazi laws that destroyed the once-beautiful Germany. Cheng noted that in the Yuen Long case, the judges imposed sentences under the national security law, ignoring the tense circumstances and the numerous futile calls for help. The current judicial environment in Hong Kong seemingly resembles that of Nazi-era Germany.
Cheng believes that those who participated in and witnessed the Hong Kong anti-extradition movement will continue to strive to share these “Hong Kong stories” with the world, similar to how “Rather be ashes than dust” has been showcased at international film festivals in South Korea, New Zealand, and toured in Canada, the UK, and elsewhere. The civil unrest in Hong Kong has not ended; it has merely shifted to a different mode of storytelling.