Still Human

Friday, September 27, 2019
Drink Reception 6:30pm; Screening 7:00pm; Close 9:45pm
Asia Society Members $200; Non-members $350

Sunday, September 29, 2019
Registration 1:45pm; Screening 2:00pm; Close 4:00pm
Asia Society Members $50; Non-members $65
Free admission for students and domestic helpers

Running time: 115 minutes; Cantonese with English and traditional Chinese subtitles.

Still Human is a film about a Filipino domestic helper, Evelyn (Crisel Consunji), who arrives in Hong Kong to work as a caregiver of a paralyzed man Leung Cheong-Wing (Anthony Wong), putting her dreams on hold to earn a living. Becoming unlikely friends, they discover shared humanity that helps them face the mounting hardships and struggles in life.

Still Human has been earning critical acclaim since its premiere at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. The movie has received numerous nominations, and it has won 6 film awards in Hong Kong, including the Asian Film Awards for Best New Director, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor, and Hong Kong Film Awards for Best New Director, Best Actor and Best Newcomer.

The Friday evening gala screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the actress, Crisel Consunji, and Alice Mong (Moderator).

Crisel Consunji is a trained professional singer and creative educator. She has built her career on connecting and changing lives though creative expression. Her commitment to the arts comes full circle as she takes an active role in inspiring the next generation, and leading Baumhaus’ music and art programs for children. In 2018, She made her debut in Still Human and her remarkable performance earned her a nomination as Best Actress and an Award as New Performer at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

S. Alice Mong is the Executive Director of Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK). Prior to ASHK, she worked in New York for almost a decade in the non-profit sector in senior management position. While in New York, Ms. Mong was the Director of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) from 2009 till 2011. Ms. Mong left MOCA in July 2011 after successfully transforming the museum from a New York Chinatown institution to become the leading national museum. Ms. Mong also served as the Executive Director for the Committee of 100 in the United States, a Chinese-American non-profit membership organization founded by architect, I.M. Pei and cellist, Yo-Yo Ma. Prior to New York, Ms. Mong worked in Hong Kong from 1992 to 2002.

All proceeds from Still Human screenings will go to support the United States tour of Mila, a chamber opera commissioned by Asia Society Hong Kong Center. After a sold-out Hong Kong premiere in January 2018, the opera will have its U.S. premiere in New York and San Francisco in December 2019, thanks to support from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Mila is a trilingual story sung in Cantonese, English, and Tagalog that shines a light on the struggle of domestic migrant workers in Hong Kong. Bringing Mila to the U.S. is a special opportunity to share with new audiences a uniquely Hong Kong chamber opera and a collaboration of creative talents from Hong Kong, the Philippines, and the United States. 

Asia Society Hong Kong Center is raising funds to make Mila's tour possible. To learn more and donate to the tour, please visit: https://chuffed.org/project/mila-opera-on-tour