Review by Armindo Neves
“Rainy Moment”, a film dedicated to exploring Macau’s vanishing urban fabric, takes Macau’s largest still existing, previously walled village, Chi Lam Vai (茨林圍), as its central theme. Through its camera lens, the film delves into the profound tension between the ongoing changes of the times and the village’s unique but already threatened cultural heritage, reflecting on how its small community navigates change while holding onto memory and identity.
By intimately portraying the lives, stories, and physical spaces of Chi Lim Vai, the film invites the audience to contemplate what is lost and what might still be saved in the name of progress.
Chi Lam Vai (茨林圍, aka Chi Lam Chuen – 茨林村) known in Portuguese as “Pátio do Espinho”, is a 400-year-old, formerly walled village that lies just a street away from the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Na Tcha Temple, one of Macau’s two temples dedicated to the divinity known in Putonghua as Nezha. It is also close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St Paul’s.
The film, directed by local filmmaker Steven U (余志雲), was awarded the “Asia-Pacific Regional Film Selection Award” at the Asia Pacific Film Festival in July this year.
On Sunday, the Dream Sail Association hosted a film screening event titled “Steven on the Scene: Exploring the Cinematic Journey of Steven U” – the fifth session of a series dedicated to his works. The theme of Sunday’s session was “Search of the Fading Urban Fabric”, and the event was held at the Jao Tsung-I Academy near Praça do Tap Seac. Several people watched the film and attended a post-screening talk which included U.
At the event, U mentioned that the film was produced entirely with non-professional resources –both in terms of actors and equipment. Most of the performers are residents of Chi Lam Village, and even the flora, fauna and pets of the village are part of the screenplay. U said that what began with a plan to create a documentary evolved into a narrative film once he recognised the profound historical value and human spirit embodied by the community of Chi Lim Village.
At Sunday’s screening, a half-hour version of the film was shown. However, the full-length film runs for 50 minutes, which will be shown next month in the village. The film’s version with English subtitles is slated to be released in November.
The film centres on a grandfather and his granddaughter living in Chi Lam Vai, depicting the life and spirit of the community through their eyes. “Behind the St. Paul’s Ruins lies Chi Lam Vai – unknown to many in Macau, unseen by tourists. Only those who call it home truly know it,” U said.
The film vividly captures the memories and human warmth of the village. For example, when it rains, locals fondly refer to the rainwater as “Nezha’s Water”*. A particularly evocative tradition shown is them launching paper boats on the rainwater flowing down the village slopes, watching as these little vessels drift through the narrow streets and alleys of the community.
The village made cinematographic history some five decades ago when one of the popular Bruce Lee kung fu films – “Fist of Fury” was shot in Chi Lam Vai in 1972.
*Ne Zha is the Taoist divinity’s name in Putonghua (Mandarin). His name in Cantonese is Na Tcha.
“Rainy Moment” short film director Steven U (余志雲) talks about his film at the Jao Tsung-I Academy on Sunday afternoon. – Photos: Armindo Neves
Audience members, including Chi Lam Vai villagers, watch Sunday’s screening of “Rainy Moment” at the Jao Tsung-I Academy.
