➤ Keynote Speaker: Joyce Yang
➤ Guest Speaker: Song Zhengfang (Hong Kong jazz singer and music educator)
➤ Language: Cantonese
➤ Admission: Free
Theme: The Jazz Soul of Cinema
Do you remember when Sebastian explained to Mia what jazz is in La La Land? It’s certainly not just background music, but a live performance brimming with tension—something you have to experience firsthand. Every jazz performance is a fresh expression of freedom and improvisation. Jazz and cinema share countless wonderful connections. A century ago, in the 1920s—the “Jazz Age”—was also the golden age of cinema, and the first feature-length sound film in cinematic history was 1927’s The Jazz Singer. Many films about jazz—such as Whiplash’s extreme, fanatical dedication to art and The Great Gatsby’s melancholy beneath the glitz—have created moving audiovisual experiences.
For this edition of “Chat About Movies Club,” we’ve specially invited jazz singer Rachel Sung to join us. Through the eyes and voice of a musician, she’ll weave together those unforgettable cinematic moments that belong to the world of jazz. Born to Be Blue offers a glimpse into the master’s inner vulnerability; Mo’ Better Blues captures the smoky, sweaty, and human essence of a live club performance; and films like The Connection, Soul, and Sinners, among others—and hear how the jazz tradition swings through different stories and eras. We look forward to meeting you at the Love Cinema to experience the soulful voice of jazz.
 | Guest Speaker Rachel Sung is a Hong Kong-based jazz singer and music educator. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge, where her research focused on jazz and the culture of vocal improvisation. During her studies, she founded the University of Cambridge Jazz Society and served as the lead vocalist for two jazz big bands. | |