In Anton Chekhov’s 1895 play The Seagull, a character named Konstantin utters a now well-known phrase. To signify his devotion to the aspiring actor Nina, Konstantin declares: “I kiss the ground you’ve walked upon.”
Macau director Hong Heng-fai 孔慶輝 was so captivated by Chekhov’s work that he adapted this phrase into the title of his debut feature film. Moreover, in Kissing the Ground You Walked On 海鷗來過的房間, his two lead characters share similarities with the tortured young writer Konstantin and Nina, the object of his unrequited love.
But this is a thoroughly original work shot in Macau, where few feature-length movies are made. In Hong’s film, the Konstantin equivalent is Chuo (Pak Hou Wong). He works as a real estate agent after flopping as a writer. He rents a room in his apartment to a male tenant named Chiang (Lam Sheung), who’s an actor. What follows is a tale of queer obsession and fantasy.
The UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and UBC Connects at Robson Square will present the Vancouver premiere of Kissing the Ground You Walked On 海鷗來過的房間. Their free screening will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday (February 6) in the C300 Theatre at UBC Robson Square (800 Robson Street). Registration is mandatory.
Watch the trailer for the film (above).
Kissing the Ground launches UBC showcase
The film is in Cantonese with English subtitles, and director Hong will speak to the audience in English via livestreaming.
Filmmaker Jimmy Lo (Stories of Pang Jai) and Helena Wu, a UBC Canada Research Chair in Hong Kong Studies, co-organized the screening. It will launch the UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase 2025.
In 2023, Hong won the Golden Firebird Award for Best Director – Chinese at the 2023 Hong Kong International Film Festival. In addition, he and his film were nominated for several other prizes. They include the 2022 Golden Horse Awards for best new director, best cinematography, and best sound effects.
The UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and UBC Connects at Robson Square will present a free screening Kissing the Ground You Walked On 海鷗來過的房間 to open UBC Asian Independent Cinema Showcase 2025. It will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday (February 6) at UBC Robson Square Theatre. Doors open at 6:40 p.m. Director Hong Heng-fai 孔慶輝 will participate in a livestreamed conversation. Register through the UBC events website.
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