Hong Kong cinema has always thrived on a certain kind of beautiful madness – precisely the quality local audiences cherish most. However, when the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa) opened the mainland Chinese market to Hong Kong co-productions in 2004, cross-border film collaborations surged. Hong Kong filmmakers zealously partnered with mainland companies, drawn by bigger budgets, lower production costs and the prospect of reaping financial rewards from a massive new audience. But...