Logline:

Set in impoverished Hong Kong, two brothers join a semi-professional football team of eccentric characters who aim to win it all.

Director Statement:

On the surface, Dreams of Glory seems to be another sports film that details several misfits/nomads forming an underdog team that takes on a powerhouse. However, the film also explores the strained relationship between two brothers against their unfortunate daily circumstances. As in most of my work, Dreams of Glory gives light to a familial relationship and the conflicts that remain hidden under the surface until an event or circumstance causes these sensitive feelings to come above ground.

As our story is set in a low-income area within Hong Kong, it felt natural to me to juxtapose our setting against the story of underdogs since I believe that setting defines character, and explains their motivations. The story follows Hong and his older brother Wei, as they join a semi-professional football team that struggles to remain afloat due to a lack of funding. The brothers are supported by Tai, an adversary later-turned-friend to Hong, and Froggy, our heartwarming comedic relief character. The whole team is held together by Coach Tony, a tough leader who manages to create a bond between these deprived young men. The film also features Ms. Lee, the single and clinically depressed mother of our two protagonists, whose condition is a sore subject to Wei and Hong.

It has noticeably been difficult for young players to pursue their football ambitions in Hong Kong. Our film is a tribute to the relentless and hard-working young people, who disregard the constraints imposed on them, in hopes of attaining greater dreams. We are hoping our film inspires them, the same way they have inspired us.

Due to the nature of our story, I decided to approach it in a more serious manner, which is reflected in the visuals. Before even picking up the camera, our Director of Photography, Tim Richardson and I had lengthy discussions on how visuals can help tell our story. We opted for high contrasts and low-key lighting in our images to convey the serious tones ever so present across the picture.

Although the film has a rather dark mood compared to most sports films, that’s not to say it doesn’t have its bright moments. At the end of our film, the brothers put aside their differences and confess their affection for each other, something that they have never done before. They are then joined by their mother who has seemed to escape her depressed state. The ending is hopeful, to say the least.

When watching our finished product, I can’t help but feel joy and nostalgia. To think that we have finally made it across the finish line after the struggles we faced getting this made, it is truly cathartic and endearing. From the production assistants, to the grips, to the executive producers, everyone had come into this production together with one goal in mind: to create great cinema. And for that, as a director, I am eternally grateful to everyone involved in this project.

故事簡介：

故事發生在香港的低收入社區，兩兄弟加入了一支由性格各異的雜排軍組成的半職業足球隊，他們的目標是擊敗強敵，晉身香港超級聯賽。

導演感言：

《綠茵風華》表面上是一部足球電影，講述一群性格迥異的反叛青年組成的雜排軍足球隊，與強隊角逐的故事。然而，影片更深入探討了兩兄弟在貧困家庭背景下的緊張關係。和我其他作品一樣，《綠茵風華》揭示了家庭關係中隱藏的情感衝突，直至某事件或因素將這些敏感情感引爆後，這才浮現出來。

由於故事發生在香港低收入階層的公共屋邨，我很自然地將公共屋邨的環境與弱勢群體的故事連結，因為我相信環境塑造人物性格，也能解釋他們的行為。故事講述主角阿康和哥哥阿偉加入一支半職業足球隊，資金短缺使得球隊難以維持。兄弟倆獲得隊友阿泰和青蛙的支持，阿泰曾是阿康的競爭對手，兩人後來化敵為友；青蛙則是影片中溫馨的喜劇角色。球隊由作風硬朗的教練東尼帶領，令這群被社會歧視的年輕人，團結一心，互相激勵，追尋夢想。影片也突出了單親媽媽李姑娘的角色，她是兩位主角患有憂鬱症的母親，她的憂鬱症是阿偉和阿康內心的最痛。

在香港，年輕球員追逐足球夢想充滿困難。《綠茵風華》是對那些不畏困難，堅持追夢的年輕人的致敬。他們即使面對生活挑戰，也能超越自我，期許實現更遠大的理想。我們期望《綠茵風華》能激勵他們，正如他們的堅毅精神激勵了我們一樣。

由於故事的性質，我選擇以嚴肅的拍攝方式來表達，這在影片的視覺效果上體現出來。在正式拍攝前，我與攝影師李安添進行了長時間討論，如何透過視覺效果來幫助我們更好地述說故事。我們採用高對比攝影和低調照明，以達致強化影片整體的嚴肅基調。

儘管《綠茵風華》比較沉重的基調不同於大多數體育類電影，但這並不意味著影片缺乏光明的時刻。故事結尾，阿偉和阿康摒棄前嫌，坦誠相待，這是兄弟倆前所未有的一刻。母親李姑娘也似乎擺脫憂鬱，與兒子們相擁，母子同心。至少可以說，影片的結局是充滿希望的！

看著我們的成品，我感到既喜悅又懷念。想到我們在製作過程中所經歷的重重困難，最終跨過了終點線，實在令人滿足和欣慰。從製作助理、攝影助理、監製到製作人，每一位同仁都同心協力，只為打造一部引人入勝的電影。身為導演，我由衷感謝參與《綠茵風華》製作的每一位成員。