Actually, I had sent the script for AFTER THIS OUR EXILE to Tony Leung (after Andy Lau pulled out) recommended by Eric Tsang. Eric Tsang liked the script very much, but Tony Leung said it was “too heavy.” He is not psychologically prepared to play the father’s role. With his method of working, he was afraid it might be difficult to pull up from the psychology of the character after working on the film. I think this is an excuse. What he has in mind is to continue to play these Bryan Ferry playboy characters. It’s really pitiful for an actor not to grow.

The decline of Hong Kong cinema has occurred because it is without variety. You have all these silly comedies --not the good ones, I mean the mindless ones-- and you have this triad society stuff as if Hong Kong is about gangsters and police. How many triad society members do you encounter in your daily life? It is a narrow and distorted view of Hong Kong society. It is detestable. It reflects fear and insecurity. This action-oriented genre might sell and excite audiences, but cinema is not about excitement it is about touching hearts. That is what is ultimately important --emotional impact rather than action.