The Island Tales Greetings from the Cast

The air in the filled-to-capacity Theatre Ginza was thick with excitement when Osawa Takao and Momoi Kaori, two of the stars of director Stanley Kwan's latest film, the Japan-Hong Kong co-production The Island Tales, appeared on-stage before the film's screening. Looking back at the shoot on tourist destination Lamma Island, Osawa mused "When we actually tried living there, the food was delicious and it was a wonderful island. With the Hong Kong crew, important people and lowly people are all at the same level, everyone working together. So sometimes the sound people would criticize our acting. (laughs)" Actress Momoi agreed, "We didn't stick religiously to the script, but had the power on the to create something new. If I tried to suggest some idea here in Japan, they'd say 'You're the actress, not the director,' but it wasn't at all like that this time. The shoot was very empowering." After it came to light (courtesy of the session's moderator) that Momoi had been director Kwan's idol, the actress laughed "Wong Kar-Wai and Fruit Chan have told me the same thing. They say You have to be in my film next.'" For his part, Osawa was apparently a favorite target of the scandal-loving Hong Kong mass media. "They'd spread out photographs of the actresses in front of me, and ask me who I liked best. That had me in a tight spot." Needless to say, this too drew laughs from the audience.