This Week In Controversy

Just when you thought that the photogate, which mesmerized and provided daily fodder for the better part of early 2008, is over and life is boring again, Cecilia Cheung hit you with a 300 pound interview that promises the controversy to live on. Probably infuriated or at least disturbed by Chen's latest publicity tour or so called trial in Canada and his incessant pleads to the media to let the girls stand up again, Cheung finally speaks up. With a touch of make-up, slicked back hair, and a black and white checkered pillow-collared sweat shirt that not only makes her look good but also promises a good sleep in any cross Atlantic flight, Cheung basically calls Edison Chen a hypocrite and questions his new found Christian faith. As expected there are moments of choked-ups and tears. And over all, Cheung comes across as strong, responsible and above all just another ordinary Hong Kong girl who can't quite pronounce the word "I" correctly. She has a loving husband and families that stand by her during the most trying time of hers. Instead of blaming on Chen and the media, she owns up her mistakes and emphasizes it was never the fault of the media but only Chen and hers. (Which is in sharp contrast to a certain Ngai and Chow couple who issued the stupidest press releases to blame the gutter press and everybody else for their pathetic existence.) The media are going to love Cheung even more and for good reasons.

If for some reason you think Cecilia Cheung or the photogate is so passe so 2008 and so vulgar, then perhaps another Cheung (or Chang), that is Eileen Chang may capture your elitist imagination. Chang who died in 1995 never leaves the minds of her fans death or alive. Her private secluded life and ultimate death only add to her allure. Her novel named Little Reunion which was completed in 1976 finally got published in 2009, thirty three years after its completion and fourteen years after her death. The publication, to some, is not meant to happen, as her will* stated that "Little Reunion" is to be destroyed. As a blogger, that's the irresponsible kind, I have not sourced any evidence except other blog posts like from Chang's estate administrator Roland Soong's. My opinion as a reader is let's publish it. I believe Chang would like to see it published too. I can't imagine doing otherwise, that's, a major work by one of the most popular if not greatest modern Chinese writers got destroyed per her will. Plus I think her works acquire the kind of importance that they basically have a life of their own and in some way, most likely not legal, they really belong to the public. To destroy Little Reunion is unthinkable.

*updated 3/2, further blog reading suggests that wasn't actually in her will, so who knows.

Update 3/20, Roland Soong updated his blog with the Chang's "Last Will And Testament" which made no mention of destroying "Little Reunion." People want to believe what they want to believe. From day one, I think to destroy "Little Reunion" is unthinkable.