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About the Filmmaker

Hi, I’m Cherly, and I am a second-year History student at the University of Hong Kong. Growing up between Shanghai and Hong Kong, I’ve learned to code-switch between Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. In my free time, I enjoy reading (currently in the middle of Sunrise of the Reaping), listening to music (80s/90s Japanese city pop), and rowing. This summer, I am excited to work on several film-related personal creative projects.

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Synopsis

This oral history project revisits Cantopop’s golden era (1980s), told through the memories of my parents, teenagers at the time, who lived through its rise and fall. More than just music, Cantopop became the voice of a generation and of Hong Kong itself, shaped by the city’s cultural identity during a time of political flux and urban transformation.

 

From Sam Hui’s defining anthems of the 1970s, which mirrored the city’s working-class grit, to the meteoric stardom of Leslie Cheung and Beyond in the 1980s, the film traces how these artists soundtracked a collective awakening. Through my parents’ stories, the film reveals how Cantopop wasn’t just entertainment: it carried the weight of dreams, hope, and rebellion, embedding itself into first loves, sleepless nights, and friendships that defined their youth.

 

Yet as the 1990s saw the tragic loss of icons like Cheung and Beyond’s Wong Ka Kui, the music’s decline mirrored the city’s collective mourning. Blending archival footage and personal anecdotes, this film ultimately explores what Cantopop means to people—not just to those who lived through its golden age, but to generations today.