Filmmaker Tsui Hark keeps cinema forever young in Lyon

"Cinema should always be 16 years old," Hong Kong director Tsui Hark said at the 18th Festival Lumière in Lyon, France, where a retrospective of his work celebrates a career fueled by youthful imagination, cinematic experimentation and a flair for spectacle.

Running from Oct 10 to 18, the festival has invited Tsui as one of its featured filmmakers, with screenings, a master class and other events dedicated to his work. His martial arts classic Once Upon a Time in China is among the films being shown, alongside influential titles including the period romance Shanghai Blues (1984) and the action comedy Peking Opera Blues (1986).

The festival also marked Tsui's first visit to Lyon. Reflecting on the retrospective, he said the screenings had brought back memories of the many collaborators who had accompanied him throughout his career, particularly Nansun Shi, his former wife and longtime creative partner.