Apart

Revolution is pursued for a better love, yet love gets lost in the unpredictable tides of revolution. Veteran actor Lester Chan Chit-Man directs, using the emotions of young people as a thread to connect the Umbrella Movement and the Anti-Extradition Bill protests. When emotions meet politics, social movements and love become intertwined, as four college students drift through their youth. Whispers and embraces, gazes or walking together—the nights in the occupied zones once brought us together. Documentary footage and fictional stories alternate, perhaps evoking memories of the happiness and sorrow of these past years. We thought revolution would ultimately succeed, that it didn’t matter whether we gathered or dispersed. But in the end, we became strangers scattered around the world, only then realizing that regret is inevitable in youth and that looking back always brings a sense of emptiness.

Directed by Lester Chan Chit-Man, Apart leans on a strong ensemble — Sofiee Ng Hoi-Yan, Will Or Wai-Lam, Jocelyn Choi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2020.