Leslie Cheung: Forever captivated by the wings of freedom.

Forever captivated by the wings of a free bird.

In the film "Days of Being Wild," one of the most memorable scenes is when the character Xu Zi (played by Leslie Cheung) approaches and whispers in Su Li Zhen's ear, "You'll dream about me tonight." The next day, when Su Li Zhen complains that she didn't dream about him, Xu Zi sarcastically looks at her and replies, "Of course not, because you didn't sleep at all."

Not only in the role of Xu Zi, but in every role he played, Leslie Cheung exuded a strange, magical aura. Fans of Leslie Cheung can be found in many different "communities," whether it's fans of Wong Kar-wai, fans of 1980s Hong Kong pop music, or those who support LGBTQ+ people. Many often quote the line from "Farewell My Concubine"—"a single tear darkens the earth and sky"—to explain Leslie Cheung's magic. His tragedy moved all hearts capable of feeling.

However, looking at what his admirers have written about Leslie Cheung since his death, it seems his magic stemmed from more than just "tears." Now that discussions surrounding the reasons for Leslie Cheung's suicide have ended, people only talk about his legendary songs, his roles, and above all, the sorrow that "Brother" is gone, but his youth lives on. In other words, it seems we love Leslie Cheung for his complex personality; and because in him, we find a freedom that only someone out of sync with their time, a loner like Leslie Cheung, could achieve.

Freedom is homelessness, homelessness is freedom.

During his lifetime, Leslie Cheung was often compared to Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat. While Chow Yun-fat often impressed with his portrayals of upright and sincere gangsters, Tony Leung always left a lasting impression with his loyal characters and seemingly insurmountable sorrows. Leslie Cheung and the characters he portrayed evoked contrasting emotions. On one hand, we hesitated before his recklessness, sometimes violence and indifference, but on the other hand, we were captivated by the freedom and unconstrained nature that Leslie Cheung suggested.

In "Happy Together," Leslie Cheung's character, Ha Bao Vinh, evokes many similarities to Xu Zi in "Days of Being Wild." He's like a "legless bird," "flying endlessly until it dies." Ha Bao Vinh repeatedly breaks Le Dieu Huy's heart by suddenly disappearing and then returning to make amends as if nothing happened. However, Ha Bao Vinh is not like ordinary philanderers. He throws himself into these relationships to dedicate himself and seek passion and freedom amidst a chaotic and artificial life. He is constantly on long journeys to new lands, hoping to find the peace that familiar places cannot offer.

It seems that the fates of those characters mirrored those of Leslie Cheung. He didn't feel he belonged anywhere. Although considered an icon of Hong Kong at one time, Leslie Cheung's life was a tireless journey of movement. From a young age, he had to leave home to study in England. Later, when he grew weary of Hong Kong, Leslie Cheung often traveled between Canada and the United States, always "avoiding Chinatown"—where everyone knew him—in order to live a peaceful life. As he once shared: "This land always seems chaotic, heavy, and expensive. I'm too soft-spoken. As a result, I never consider myself a Hong Konger."

When only the sky of art is wide enough.

Leslie Cheung often felt a sense of belonging in real life, but whenever he appeared on screen, he felt like he was returning to his own "home." He shared in many interviews that the repetitive daily routine of office life didn't suit him. Only on set, embodying a character, did Leslie Cheung feel more at ease. This aspect of his character is reminiscent of Cheng Dieyi, whom he himself played in "Farewell My Concubine." This character dedicated both body and soul to art, and thus could not escape the illusions of the stage. But it was precisely because of this that Cheng Dieyi was free: he did not fall into the corruptions of history, but instead quietly preserved his belief in true art.

There's a story that on the first day of filming "Happy Together," Tony Leung was so shocked that he couldn't bring himself to film the love scenes with Leslie Cheung. Then, Leslie Cheung quietly approached his co-star and said, "Throughout my life, I've filmed countless love scenes, from kissing to caressing. Do you think I enjoy those scenes? No, just treat it as work. I won't fall in love with you, and I don't want to have sex with you. You're not my type." And so, Tony Leung gradually relented and accepted the role of Leslie Cheung's lover.

That's Leslie Cheung for you: gentle and considerate, yet unafraid to dedicate himself to art. It was his own private world, a place where he lived different lives, lives that were both different from his own and yet similar to his own. However, "Brother" didn't become detached from life and people because of this. He cherished and connected with those who shared his love for art. His fans often recount a time when he performed at a concert in Toronto. At the climax of the concert, an audience member suddenly burst into tears: "I love you, Cheung!" And Cheung shouted back: "I love you too, whether you're male or female!"

And so, we can never escape the magic of Leslie Cheung.

Duc Minh