Considering how local documentary films aren’t exactly headliners at the likes of the Palace IFC Cinema, the musical documentary KJ is surprisingly engaging and relatable to the local Hong Kong crowd. Director Cheung King Wai’s biographical story of local piano prodigy Wong Ka Jeng reveals the six-year progression of a young man’s musical development and his many conflicts with his peers and parents. A genuine portrayal of a precocious child’s struggles through the daily hardships and pressures of becoming a world-class musician, this documentary connects with current aspiring local teenagers and their parents, leaving audiences with the powerful message that music should be played for the sake of itself and not for the competitiveness and self-elevation unfortunately inherent in the ideals of many local Chinese families.

Inspiration for KJ mainly comes from Cheung’s personal musical background and his attendance at the HK Schools Music Festival 2002 where he was floored by the exceptional talent and artistry of the participating students. It was there that Cheung discovered the 11-year-old pianist Wong Ka Jeng. Shot between 2002 and 2007, Ka Jeng’s story begins in the Czech Republic where he is filmed performing with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra after winning an award that saw him go on tour in Europe. From there the audience is whisked on a fascinating journey through KJ’s musical life: his lessons with piano teacher and life mentor Nancy Loo, conflicts between KJ and his friends during rehearsals, the excitement and pressures of inter-school music competitions – all the common occurrences in an average local musical teenager’s life.

But good things always come with a price and the film is an emotional rollercoaster that reveals heart-wrenching interviews ranging from an 11-year-old’s thoughts on suicide to a young adolescent’s strained relationship with his father and friends. A production spanning six years no doubt ends up with a mass of film to edit and kudos must be given to Cheung for managing to create a successful progression from KJ’s childhood to adolescence in an interesting and logical storyline. The intelligent editing also introduces several humorous bits that lighten the tone of what could have been a rather sombre story, creating a fascinating exploration of a sensitive and tallented teen’s view on the world and, conversely, how the world views him in return. Kat Yeh