There’s a lot we don’t know about on this earth, and one of those mysteries is that hair holds a lot of stories. Ever thought about whose hair is used for the wig you see at the salon? Do hairs have life, or are they immortal?
Travel back to the late ’60s with An Asian Ghost Story (Bo Wang, 2023), a 37-minutes documentary narrated by the ghost of a real hair donor. Late ‘60s was a time that might feel like a distant past for some, but for others, it’s an endless well of memories. The documentary explores Asia’s modernization in the late 20th century through the wig industry during the Cold War. In the 1960s, wigs became a vital part of Hong Kong’s economy. However, things took a turn due to a communist hair ban. As the U.S. embargoed “Asiatic hair” in 1965, it reshaped the industry in U.S. allies like South Korea and Japan.
The documentary focuses on the aftermath of the embargo, delving into stories of movement, diaspora, along with migration. It highlights Hong Kong’s role as a mediator between different worlds and examines U.S. Imperialism in East Asia during the Cold War, as Hong Kong is a city suspended between dichotomies: the past and the future, East and West, communism and capitalism. The concept of the city teeming with ghosts adds an enigmatic layer, depicting it as an eternal wanderer bearing witness to its imperial and colonial legacy. The filmmaker’s memories of 1960s Hong Kong set the mood for this short film that gracefully moves through time, echoing the fluidity of ghosts.
As you watch, a multitude of emotions emerges: captivation, laughter, spirituality, a subtle touch of politics; all wrapped up in ghostly tales. The documentary makes the audiences feel the story rather than just hearing it.
Do hairs have life, or are they immortal? Here, every hundred-year-old strand of hair owns a story, a chronicle of movement, evolution, and the enduring echoes from bygone eras. An Asian Ghost Story (2023) is selected in Spektrum Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. (Tirza Kanya B.) (Vanis)
Film Details
An Asian Ghost Story (九龙东往事)
Bo Wang | 37 Min | 2023 | The Netherlands, Hong Kong | Color & BW | 17+
Screening Schedule
12.06 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 15.00 WIB
12.09 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 15.00 WIB
