The Metrograph, an independent theater in New York City, has announced it will present “Maggie Cheung: Center Stage,” a 20-film retrospective of the actress, all in 35mm.
“Maggie Cheung has made such a tremendous impact on visual culture throughout her wide-ranging career that she has become an image of contemporary Chinese femininity recognized the world over,” the announcement reads.
Cheung was born in Hong Kong to Shanghainese parents, spent time in Paris, London, and China, and is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, English, and French. She started out as a model and beauty pageant contestant in the 1980s before, as Metrograph details, “she transcended her early roles as eye candy in formulaic romantic comedies for the Hong Kong studio system; went on to participate in the local revolution in action filmmaking; started a long and definitive association with Wong Kar-Wai in his debut feature As ‘Tears Go By;’ and devastatingly resurrected the pre-revolutionary Shanghainese silent screen goddess Ruan Ling-yu in Stanley Kwan’s landmark 1992 film ‘Center Stage.’ From there Cheung achieved international fame, collaborating with Olivier Assayas on ‘Irma Vep’ and ‘Clean ’— for which she became the first Asian actress to win a prize at Cannes. With this retrospective, Metrograph salutes the quintessential Chinese screen icon of our time.”
Metrograph is also hosting an Isabelle Huppert retrospective this month.
The Cheung retrospective begins on December 8. Films included are listed below, with showing dates and times to be announced.
“2046” (Wong Kar-wai, 2004, 129 mins)
“As Tears Go By” (Wong Kar-wai, 1988, 102 mins)
“Ashes of Time Redux” (Wong Kar-wai, 1994/2008, 93 mins)
“Comrades: Almost a Love Story” (Peter Chan, 1996, 118 mins)
“Center Stage” (Stanley Kwan, 1991, 126 mins)
“Clean ”(Olivier Assayas, 2004, 90 mins)
“Days of Being Wild” (Wong Kar-wai, 1990, 94 mins)
“Green Snake” (Tsui Hark, 1993, 99 mins)
“Farewell China” (Clara Law, 1990, 114 mins)
“Happy Ghost III” (Johnnie To, 1986, 89 mins)
“The Heroic Trio” (Johnnie To, 1993, 88 mins)
“The Iceman Cometh” (Clarence Fok, 1999, 114 mins)
“In the Mood for Love” (Wong Kar-wai, 2001, 98 mins)
“Irma Vep” (Olivier Assayas, 1996, 99 mins)
“Police Story” (Jackie Chan, 1985, 94 mins)
“Police Story 2” (Jackie Chan, 1988, 101 mins)
“Police Story 3: Supercop” (Stanley Tong, 1992, 95 mins)
“Project A Part II” (Jackie Chan, 1987, 101 mins)
“Red Dust” (Ho Yim, 1990, 94 mins)
“The Twin Dragons” (Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark, 1992, 104 mins)
