A Biography of Tony Leung

Author: Yan Rong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Speaking in silence, stirring passion in tranquility. Wong Kar-wai once said, "Leung Chiu-wai doesn’t need a mouth to act—he can perform just with his eyes." The melancholy in Leung Chiu-wai’s gaze seems to lightly conceal some stories that belong to him, released in his films in a performative manner, captivating audiences and making them lose themselves. Those lingering silences and enduring pains accumulate over the years in the scenes of his life. When he is silent, countless words surge from his calm eyes. His helplessness, his reluctance, his charm, his recklessness—every detail, every nuance—permeates his vision, every inch of light and shadow.
—Recreating Leung Chiu-wai’s long career in the stars, interpreting the real emotional world behind the brilliance of the film emperor.
On the evening of March 27, 2005, Leung Chiu-wai once again won the Best Actor award at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards, with five victories making this deep man who bathes in petals once again successfully embody his exquisite acting skills. Leung Chiu-wai is an iconic figure in Hong Kong cinema. His interpretation of art requires no words—just one glance, and all meaning is revealed. Leung Chiu-wai’s eyes have become the most charming aspect of his life, and thus the most potent weapon he possesses. He observes the sea, the clouds, and the world with detachment, placing the fleeting vanity beyond his reach. He is the only Hong Kong actor to date to win the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and the second Chinese actor after Ge You to win the Best Actor award at the Cannes Television Festival. On the path to success, he advances by bending. He is naturally solitary and enjoys this solitude. In solitude, he also perfects himself, becoming an unparalleled sight on the stage of performance. He is composed and restrained yet full of passion; he is bold yet introspective; he is charming yet deeply devoted. He carries the uninterpretable charm of his life with him.
Leung Chiu-wai: A Visual Biography is richly illustrated, interpreting Leung Chiu-wai’s long career in the stars and his winding emotional journey. From "The Five Tigers of TVB" to his triumph at Cannes, from The Deer Hunter to Dong Feng Po, from A City of Sadness to Happy Together, and then from In the Mood for Love to 2046, and finally The Banquet, Leung Chiu-wai performs life, and life performs him.