Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)
While martial arts films are an important part of Hong Kong film history, there is a lot more to it. Many Hong Kong films also capture the city’s unique culture. One good example is McDull, Prince de la Bun (2004).
The film follows McDull, a piglet who lives with his mother, Mrs Mak, in Hong Kong. Mrs Mak works hard to give McDull a better life and puts him in many classes. Before bed, she tells him a story she wrote about McDull’s father.
The film shows what life is like for everyday Hongkongers – people who work hard and want a better life. As such, many people can relate to the story. This animated film features iconic Hong Kong dishes such as pineapple buns. It also shows old Hong Kong neighbourhoods to remind the audience of the city’s past and how it has changed over the years.
Create your own McDull film
Materials
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A4-sized paper
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colour pencils and crayons
Instructions
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Imagine you are making a film about today’s kids featuring your own McDull character. What kind of piglet would you create, and what would the story be about? What part of your city would the story happen in?
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Make a poster of your McDull film. Draw a picture of an important scene and give it a fun title.
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At the bottom of your poster, write a short summary of no more than two sentences about your film.
Easy pineapple bun toast
Adapted from daigasikfaan.co
Materials
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2 slices of bread
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40g of unsalted butter (about one-third of a stick; leave it out until it becomes soft)
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2 tablespoons of sugar
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⅓ cup of cake flour (or plain flour)
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a pinch of salt
Instructions
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With an adult’s help, preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius.
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Cut the butter into small cubes. Use a fork to mash the softened butter with sugar. Then, mix it with a wooden spoon until it is fluffy.
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Add flour to your mixture and combine it well.
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Scoop half of the mixture onto each slice of bread. Spread it gently. Ask an adult to help you use a butter knife to draw lines that look like the classic pineapple bun.
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Bake it for five to eight minutes until it is crispy.
