Fiery and Gentle, We are Hongkongers

A murder case prompted the Hong Kong government to drop a shock bomb, and the amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance has set off a tug of war between Taiwan and Hong Kong, and triggered the turmoil that continued in Hong Kong for the most part in 2019. In the series of clashes between the police and the public, the public's fear of "being surrendered to China" to oppose the amendment has evolved into a social movement against police brutality and Chinese capital infiltration.

The film begins with people defacing the national emblem at the Liaison Office, revealing the growing distance between Hong Kong people and their national identity more than 20 years after the handover. A young man in the film goes from planning to develop his career in Mainland China to eventually deciding not to go to Mainland China, even without bearing in mind the cost, and kept supporting the frontline protesters. This is a reflection of the unprecedented movement that has established the identity of Hong Kong people.

The movement has been a powerful one, ranging from demonstrations, rallies, road blocking, graffiti, airport siege and brick formation on roads, to human chains, singing and child protection. This has shown the essence of "Be Water". The film captures the increasing violence between protesters and police, but also the emotional connection and unconditional commitment between people.

The fiery course, in the end, resulted in the National Security Law, which dealt a severe blow to the pluralistic voices of Hong Kong's civil society; but the gentle side, in the end, firmly cemented the spiritual values of Hong Kong people. Fiery and Gentle is an important chapter in the history of Hong Kong's social movement.