When Cinema Reflects Itself: The Layered Nostalgia of Andy Lau’s “Days of Tomorrow”
In the mosaic of Hong Kong’s self-referential cinema, Days of Tomorrow (1993) stands as a hall of mirrors where fiction and reality dance through decades. Directed by Jeffrey Lau under the pseudonym Liu Yuming, this underappreciated gem starring Andy Lau offers Western viewers a masterclass in cultural memory preservation through its ingenious nesting-doll narrative structure.
I. The Double-Edged Lens: Filmmaking as Historical Preservation
The film’s boldest innovation lies in its dual timeline framing:
- 1990s Frame Story: A film crew attempts to remake Days of Tomorrow, a fictional 1960s classic
- 1960s Flashback: The original tragic romance between Lau’s character and co-star Lau Kam-Ling
This structure transforms the screen into a time machine, contrasting:
- Technological Evolution: 1960s studio sets vs. 1990s location shooting
- Social Values: Traditional Confucian ideals vs. capitalist pragmatism
- Star Power Mythology: Andy Lau playing both a 1960s screen idol and his modern counterpart
The production design intentionally mimics 1960s Shaw Brothers aesthetics through:
- Washed-out Technicolor filters
- Stylized melodramatic gestures
- Orchestral scores replacing synth-pop trends
II. Andy Lau as Cultural Archivist
Lau’s dual role becomes a metaphor for Hong Kong’s identity crisis pre-1997 handover:
As 1960s Actor “Cheung Wah-Keung”
- Embodies old Hong Kong virtues: filial piety, artistic integrity, stoic sacrifice
- Performs death scenes with operatic precision reminiscent of Leslie Cheung’s early works
As 1990s Film Producer
- Represents pragmatic modernity: commercial calculations, copyright battles
- Mirrors Lau’s real-life transition from actor to producer in the 1990s
The climactic scene where Lau’s modern character discovers his fictional predecessor’s diary blurs:
- Professional duty vs. personal legacy
- Artistic creation vs. historical documentation
- Star persona vs. private self
III. Women as Memory Keepers
The film subverts male-dominated nostalgia through pivotal female characters:
Ng Ka-Lai’s Copyright Crusade
- Portrays a retired studio boss fighting to preserve artistic truth
- Embodies the fading generation’s struggle against commercial revisionism
- Symbolizes Hong Kong’s matriarchal film pioneers like Mona Fong
Lau Kam-Ling’s Silent Sacrifice
- Represents undocumented contributions of 1960s starlets
- Her character’s off-screen death parallels real actresses erased from cinematic history
Deanie Ip’s Cameo as Script Supervisor
- Bridges past/present through her dual career spanning 40 years
- Her meticulous script annotations mirror Hong Kong’s oral history traditions
IV. The Sound of Time: Auditory Storytelling
The soundtrack functions as temporal signposting:
1960s Sequences
- Zhou Xuan’s The Wandering Songstress (1937) covers
- Erhu-heavy orchestral arrangements
1990s Sequences
- Jacky Cheung’s pop ballads
- Digital remastering effects on classic melodies
This acoustic contrast peaks when modern producers debate whether to replace the original theme song – a meta-commentary on 1990s Cantopop commercialization.
V. Cement Mixers and Film Reels: Industrial Allegory
The film’s recurring construction motifs symbolize:
- Destruction of old Hong Kong landmarks (Kowloon Walled City demolition)
- Rebuilding cultural identity through cinema
- Film studios as architectural palimpsests
A pivotal scene films Lau against the real-life demolition of Shaw Brothers Studio – an unscripted moment preserved by the director, making the film both fiction and documentary.
VI. Why Western Audiences Should Care
-Days of Tomorrow* offers:
- Alternative to Martial Arts Stereotypes: Reveals Hong Kong’s introspective arthouse tradition
- Crash Course in Cinematic History: Mirrors Hollywood’s own preservation debates (e.g. Singin’ in the Rain)
- Timeless Universal Themes: Artistic integrity, intergenerational dialogue, love transcending eras
The final montage superimposing 1960s film strips over 1990s Hong Kong skyline serves as both requiem and rebirth anthem – a message resonating with global creatives fighting algorithmic content homogenization.