Distinction
Description
Ambitiously tackling the frailties of the Hong Kong educational system, Jevons Au’s moving and nuanced drama depicts the attempt of a special needs school to collaborate with students from other schools to put on a musical. Using a diverse array of characters and a storyline based on true events, Distinction demonstrates how separating kids with disabilities leads to stigmatization and ignorance while institutions designated for high-performing kids can sometimes neglect those students’ interests in artistic pursuits.
“Au has quickly proven himself a keen observer of human nature, less a technician and more an emotional storyteller, and it serves him well here. His most obvious targets are the people and institutions that are failing kids with mental handicaps, but he’s just as interested in turning his camera on the attitudes and institutions that are stifling so-called normal kids, and failing them in other ways.” —Elizabeth Kerr, The Hollywood Reporter
Jevons Au graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2004. His early directorial works include award-winning independent short films and videos. After joining Milkyway Image, he became one of the screenwriters of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (HKC 2011) and Romancing in Thin Air (HKC 2012). In 2016, he co-directed Trivisa (SFFILM Festival 2016) with Frank Hui and Vicky Wong.
Film Details
Language Cantonese
Year 2018
Premiere North American
Runtime 98
Country Hong Kong
Director Jevons Au
Producer Winnie Tsang, Catherine Wong
Writer Jevons Au, Ashley Cheung, Chuiyi Chung
Editor Emily Leung
Cinematographer Zhang Ying
Music Charles Lau, Martin Lai
Cast Jo Koo, Long Tse-ka, Jennifer Yu
Print Source Golden Scene