Head-To-Tail" (2018) - A Reflective Snapshot of Hong Kong's Dichotomous Existence

 

Head-To-Tail (2018)

In "Head-To-Tail" (2018), we delve into the lives of a family torn apart by their roles in a society in turmoil. With a seasoned journalist father, a son in the police force, and a daughter actively participating in protests, they find themselves navigating the complexities of family and a fractured Hong Kong society, slowly realizing their lives are no longer their own.

Since the pandemic began in 2020, it feels as if the fervor of protest has faded from the collective memory of Hongkongers. Looking at films centered around protest, "Head-To-Tail", explores the dynamics within a family during the Umbrella Movement, featuring a journalist, a police officer, and a protester - three individuals from one family, facing Hong Kong's fragmentation.

The film perhaps intends to convey the idea of being "trapped" in your circumstances. Hong Kongers hustle daily to make ends meet, striving to keep up with the rapid pace of modern life. Each person is forced to adapt and persevere relentlessly. In the movie, the journalist must learn video editing and race against other media outlets. The police officer becomes a target for both the government and the public. The protester fights for justice with no safety net, gambling on their future and personal safety.

Indeed, Hong Kong is recoginized as one of the "longest working hours" cities while simultaneously boasting the "least affordable housing." Politics has traditionally seemed distant from the lives of many, as they primarily seek financial stability. This is epitomized by Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui's phrase "harvest season," revealing the apathy towards politics. However, the anti-extradition bill movement awoke the city to the fact that politics is intertwined with their lives. From the proposal of a single bill to its eventual enactment, it became clear that the government had manipulated us all along.

The notion of being "trapped" in circumstances merely arises from not initially distinguishing between political and economic significance. Now, more than five years after the Umbrella Movement, our direction is becoming increasingly clear. We understand that politics affects not only our economy but also our daily lives. The "contradictions" within each character in "Head-To-Tail" should make us ponder. If you've been through this year-long ordeal and still haven't grasped this, if you think it's a good idea to continue playing this game of subsistence, perhaps you're falling behind the times? However, for those who choose to remain in the "nostalgic" comfort zone of the past, perhaps being left behind by the times is exactly what they desire.