KJ: Music & Life
North American Premiere
Opening Film
Screening Time
Thursday, May 27, 7:30 pm (by invitation only)
Sunday, May 30, 11:15 am
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Documentary / Hong Kong / 2008 / 93 minutes
Director: Cheung, King-wai Producer : King-wai Cheung, Ben Tsiang Produced by CNEX Foundation Language : Cantonese & English w/ English & Chinese subtitles “I want to be a human being.” — KJ |
It is hard to believe that this award-winning documentary only had a production budget of $13,215 US. Acclaimed as a surprising achievement at the 46th Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, JK presents a rare sensitive portrait of a young musician in Hong Kong, who is struggling with demands of his own talent and questioning the meaning of life. The film won the Best Documentary, Best Editor, and Best Music at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival in 2009.
Kajeng Wong (KJ) is a 17-year-old music prodigy from a well-to-do family and lives an inexhaustible life provided by his doctor father. At the age of 11, he won his Best Pianist title at the Hong Kong Interscholastic Competition in Music and the opportunity to play Beethoven’s Concerto for Piano No. 1 with a professional orchestra in Czech. However, in the mind of the young talent, he began to question incessantly about “why piano?”, and “what is in life, if not music?”
For six years, director Cheung followed KJ’s dazzling moments on stage up to his troubled teenage years. By examining KJ’s innermost thoughts, the reality speaks of a normal young man facing universal choices and struggles – the meaning of life, God, the artistic process, inspiration, his conflicts with peers and parents. 
“KJ is especially poignant for those who can relate to the excessive attention given to young musical talents …… Cheung has captured an interesting character, who not only thinks beyond the system, but believes that he’s levels above it.” – Kevin Ma, LOVE HK FILM.com
This documentary is not about the victory of a prodigy, but how he learns to be a “human being”.
Awards
Grand Prix of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award (2010)
Best Documentary, Best Editor, Best Music, 46th Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival (2009)
About Cheung, King-wai
His first feature documentary All’s Rights with the World was screened at the 1st New Asia Film Festival. This is the second time we present his work. Born in Hong Kong, King studied cello from a young age and pursued music at Brooklyn College and City University of New York, but ended up graduating with a degree majoring in film production and philosophy. His works have won prizes in many international film festivals. His first feature-length script, God’s Apple, garnered him the Excellent Prize in the Mainland, Hong Kong & Taiwan Myth Script Creation Contest 2001, while his second script, The Way We Are, was also awarded the Best Story Prize in Hong Kong-Asia Film Financing Forum 2005. The film based on this script was produced by famous director Ann Hui.
Media Presenting Partner
