1157 Macau: "In this film, I felt I was a star...a Casa Dourada"
austra L asia 1157
"In this film, I felt I was a star...a Casa Dourada"
MACAU: 8th June 2005: Macau has long been dubbed 'The
Pearl of the Orient', but a story that has gripped what is now the
Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau is a golden story.
'A Casa Dourada' was written by four young inmates of Macau's Coloane
Prison. The title means 'In the Golden House'. The book
took Macau by storm, the first edition quickly selling out. Then
came the stage version and finally, thanks to the inspiration of Fr
Peter Ho, Rector of Macau's Salesian Institute, and the backing of the
Salesian Family through the Don Bosco Youth Network, the film.
Salesian Institute, it should be known, is the
very first school in the East Asia-Oceania region, founded by Fr.
Versiglia (St. Louis Versiglia by now) in 1906. The centenary,
therefore, will be next year.
By the time the initial scenes of the film were being shot
last year, two of the inmate authors were no longer in prison.
The other two continue to serve their term. Their story appealed
so much to Fr Ho that he thought of it immediately in educational
terms. There is a context of course - there always is. Macau, in
physical terms a rather small city by any standards, has no fewer than
17 casinos built or being built. This is a huge challenge to
values, especially for young people who can find work and the promise
of 'cheap gold'' from that source. 'Golden Houses' had already
meant many things to so many young people in the city - what if the
'Casa Dourada' story could be filmed, and what if students from the
Institute could be the actors?
In fact, in the now completed cinema version, the real
protagonists appear, but their physical identity is protected.
Instead, in full view of the camera are four students from Salesian
Institute. Part of the film was shot at the prison. The
actors had a chance to also converse with those they were
playing. "I felt I was a star" said Wong Cheok Hon, admitting
that he had already had considerable interest in stage acting but found
cinema acting so much easier. Tong Wai Chon, on the other hand,
had no previous acting experience and in fact took the auditions as a
bit of fun, not seriously expecting to be chosen. But he has an
excellent memory, he discovered.
The premiere of the film took place towards Christmas time
last year, but the story does not finish so easily, since its real
characters are real people. Their story has touched many young
lives. Fr Ho has seen to it that a fund has been established to
help them continue their studies and to make something of their lives.
And whether in or out of prison, it would seem that these real heroes
have fully changed their lives. There is a book, a stage
play, a DVD to prove it.
For more information, you may wish to contact Fr Ho
directly at pedroho02@yahoo.com.hk
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