The Drummer display area ahead of a special screening
of the 1983 Hong Kong movie that's been given a 4k restoration
The Drummer (Hong Kong, 1983)
- Richard Yuen, director and co-scriptwriter (along with Ching Kit-yan and Wan Siu-kuen)
- Starring: Leslie Cheung, Elaine Chow, Paul Chung, David Lo, Ng Wui, Fernando Carpio
Two years ago this month, a biopic of the late Anita Mui opened in cinemas. Anita went on to become a big box office hit, and I must admit to wondering if some Hong Kong filmmakers would consider making a biopic of another Hong Kong superstar singer-actor who also passed away in 2003. Two years on though, I've not heard of any plans for a Leslie Cheung biopic. On the other hand, this month sees the (limited) release in local cinemas of a 4k restored version of a 1983 film starring the Hong Kong superstar who was shown this past April 1st to still be loved as well as missed.
The Drummer has a then already 26-year-old Leslie Cheung convincingly playing a secondary schoolboy. Tommy aspires to be a professional drummer, and works hard at it by having regular and intense practice sessions before school and sometimes also late at night. (And yes, I must be honest and admit that until I saw this movie, I had not realised that Leslie Cheung also played the drums as well as sang and acted!)
His drum sessions often threaten to drive his scriptwriter father (essayed by David Lo) mad and also angers their neighbors. We're talking after all of Tommy and his family living in an apartment block -- and from personal experience, I can tell you that many Hong Kong apartments are less soundproof than its residents would like!
On the other hand, Tommy's drumming passion has the support of his grandfather (portrayed by Ng Wui), younger brother (played by David Wu Dai Wai), his best friend (the saxophone playing Paul Chung) and understanding girlfriend (played by Elaine Chow). And although he initially is reluctant to take him on, his drumming "sifu" (who is essayed by real life drum master, Fernando Carpio).
More than incidentally, among the more interesting and amusing sections of The Drummer have Fernando Carpio in it. On the cultural front: it's to the film's credit that his character is not only an admirable one but also shown to be the subject of unfair racial discrimination. He's also one of two individuals (with the other being Tommy's grandfather) who delivers the most important life lessons to the young man; with Carpio doing his part in an unorthodox fashion -- involving taking Tommy to a mental institution to show him that a passion drumming can make people go mad!
Still, there's no doubt who is the star of The Drummer -- and Leslie Cheung comes across as very charismatic, physically attractive and eminently watchable! On a Leslie history note: this musical drama was the Leslie Cheung movie vehicle that followed Nomad (1982), for which he received his first of eight Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actor nominations (the final one of them in 2003). And it's one I reckon is deserved.
And for those who are wondering: yes, Leslie Cheung also sings in The Drummer -- sometimes while he's playing the drums too! Also, yes, the music in this movie is pretty enjoyable; as is to be expected of an offering whose music is handled by the legendary Joseph Koo!
All in all, I get the sense that The Drummer will make even those who weren't alive or living in Hong Kong back in the early 1980s nostalgic to some extent for the Hong Kong of that now long gone era. One thing I have to say though: my goodness, the boys and men of 50 years sure were way skinnier than most Hong Kong boys and men of the current era; something that I really couldn't help notice thanks to such as the movie also featuring scenes of a bunch of them having fun at the beach and in the sea while clad in skimpy swim trunks! :D
My rating for this film: 7.5
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