17 1/2

DV, it seems, has met an enthusiastic reception in the Hong Kong. That, in itself, is not news. But what's interesting is how young film-makers are starting to use DV to express themselves. In a movie scene where independent film-makers face an uphill struggle, DV could be just the thing to give the fledgling scene a boost. This programme is a compilation of DV films promoted by the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Schoolgirl Monica Lee's 17 1/2 is an example of how a young film-maker can seize a new, relatively accessible piece of technology and use it to make a personal statement. Lee's fictional film, which she shot in a borrowed Sony PC-7, tells of a girl's pain when she is rejected by her best friend, who has found a boyfriend. Made with the technical help of her father, the 23-minute silent film, reveals a good grounding in the mechanics of cinema, and is sensitive and poignant to boot. (Richard James Havis “Moving Pictures International”)