Watch these 5 films if you miss Hong Kong’s signature neon signs
Signboards and neon lights are always going to be part of Asia’s city of lights
With more calls to remove Hong Kong’s iconic LED strips as part of the drive to improve light pollution, we feel nostalgic for the days when the garish lights shone brightest – after all, what is Hong Kong without the fantastic Symphony of Lights, and street signs synonymous with nightlife in Asia’s City of Lights?
It is no mean statement to say the LED signs make the city like no place in the world. Captured in millions of images, immortalised in thousands of films, the visually dynamic city continues to inspire and captivate filmmakers. Just look at these five diverse films – the neon signage plays a supporting role that adds an edge to their storylines.
1. Vengeance
This French noir film written by Wai Ka-fai sees Johnny Hallyday traipsing across the underworld of Hong Kong seeking revenge. Of course, when night falls, the neon strips come out to play.
2. Doctor Strange
Supernatural powers that allow Benedict Cumberbatch’s eponymous character of the film Doctor Strange transcend time and space lands him in the bustling heart of Hong Kong.