Green Activism in the City: Hong Kong Independent Ecofilms in the Post-2008 Era

Abstract

More and more people are acutely aware of the pollutants entering the city from the industries in Southern China, more people are 'going green,' and discussions of animal rights have become much more prominent. Still, the lack of imminent danger seems to have lulled the citizens of Hong Kong into a comfortable sense that they are, at least temporarily, free from global climate change. Two arenas of ecocritical responsibility will be examined in this paper: alternative communities, with a focus on Sangwoodgoon, and the thriving ecocinema scene in Hong Kong. Sangwoodgoon combines farming activities with films, art, and performance, creating a platform that connects the aesthetic portrayal of the land with the physical working of the land. It seeks to engage audiences with the land, both as a physical site and as a rich terrain of the imagination. The combination of art appreciation and farm-related activities encourages members to reflect on life and environment, nature and development, the local and the globe.