Comedy and tragedy

A standout appearance in Udine was made by singer and actress Stephy Tang Lai-yan, who starred in two of the films on this year's program - Twelve Days (2021) and Table for Six (2022). Aubrey Lam Oi-wah's Twelve Days is a good example of how Making Waves, and Hong Kong filmmakers in general, are reflecting on the past 25 years, the film being a response of sorts to Lam's 2000 directorial and screenwriting debut, Twelve Nights, starring Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi and Eason Chan Yick-shun.

Picking up on the themes of doomed relationships and miscommunication 22 years later, it seems Lam's perspective on romance hasn't changed. "I think (Lam) doesn't quite believe in relationships," says her lead actress.

The film demanded a heartrending performance from Tang and she doesn't disappoint. This devastating romantic drama showcases Hong Kong acting talent at its best, with Tang and co-star Edward Ma Chi-wai taking up the mantle from their early-2000 counterparts as some of Hong Kong cinema's emotional heavy hitters.