The Mad Phoenix

The narrative spans the first three-quarters of the 20th century. It starts with Kong’s birth in 1909, follows his ascent through the 1930s, and tracks the upheavals of the Japanese invasion. The postwar period sees him wandering between Guangdong and Hong Kong, culminating in a decline into insanity and his death in 1984.

The story unfolds across key cities that shape Kong Yu-Kau’s life. It begins in Guangzhou, a southern port city known for its rich Cantonese culture and opera scene. The journey moves to Shanghai as Kong pursues Lily, a cosmopolitan arc that frames ambition and romance. After the war, Kong returns to Guangdong and eventually anchors himself in Hong Kong, reflecting the city’s role as a cultural crossroads and refuge.

🎭 Fame & Ego

Kong Yu-Kau’s raw talent catapults him to prominence, but his arrogance and ambition alienate peers. He borrows a grandiose pen name, Mr. Thirteen, and pushes others away in the pursuit of control. The film probes how artistic genius can be entangled with vanity, cruelty, and self-destruction.

🪧 Art & Politics

Kong’s anti-Japanese scripts reveal how art becomes a battleground during wartime. Public taste shifts with political winds, pressuring artists to compromise or be silenced. The tension between creative integrity and political expediency drives much of the drama.

🧠 Madness & Mortality

As Kong ages, his mind frays and he ends up in a mental hospital. The story traces how fame can erode identity and relationships, leading to isolation. The arc culminates in a tragic end that underscores memory, legacy, and the fragility of self.