Program Note
Hong Kong film critic, Stephen Teo described director Patrick Tam, who made his debut with The Sword (1980), as “the least mentioned figure among Hong Kong New Wave filmmakers, but the one who made the most ‘mature’ films...”. He added, “He is the most sophisticated and modern director among his fellow filmmakers.” Nomad (1982), in which Patrick Tam’s style is most prominently showcased, can be seen as “the prequel to Wong Kar Wai’s Days of Being Wild”. He delicately portrays the wavering youth of Louis, played by Leslie Cheung who dreams of traveling to distant places on a yacht named “Nomad”. Another great aspect of Patrick Tam’s films of that time, compared to his New Wave director colleagues, was the excellent production design, and especially William Chang, the art director, was no less than a talent Partrick discovered himself. Nomad encapsulated the true essence of modern Hong Kong cinema of the 1980s. (JU Sungchul)