Hong Kong Mixtape: NZIFF Review

Eschewing a conventional narrative and instead opting for a film that feels like recollections rather than structure pays great dividends for San San F Young's heartbreaking documentary about the destruction of Hong Kong culture under Chinese rule.

Following creatives as they struggle to live in a world post the 2019 protests and the implementation of the 2020 national security law, the film posits that great creativity comes from draconian laws, but ultimately seems to demonstrate the theory that artists will always lose as they're forced to abandon the city, the people and the culture they love.

Possibly eye-opening for many unaware on how extreme Chinese law has become, Young's documentary is visually inventive, unglaringly human and optimistically open in perhaps the bleakest of conditions.

"Our weapon was always creativity" one says - and it's easy to see how heartbreaking it is as some are forced to flee to Taiwan - a fact made even more soul-destroying by how frank and matter of fact they are for following their hearts.

But with a global movement signifying unity on the world stage even though they live disparate lives, Young's Hong Kong Mixtape offers salvation for creatives under fire and optimism where there is occasionally none. Presented simply, but with a great beating heart, Hong Kong Mixtape is an insightful, honest documentary that will make most of us reassessing what freedoms we take for granted daily.