Wong Kar-wai's 'Happy Together' Inspiration, Cinematographer Ho Po-wing, Dies

Ho Po-wing, a key cinematographer within director Wong Kar-wai's film team, died on June 21. His passing was announced by a close friend on social media, stating he died peacefully surrounded by his wife, Man-yi, and family.

Ho Po-wing was an integral part of Wong Kar-wai's creative circle. His name gained significant recognition among film enthusiasts when Wong Kar-wai used the real names of two crew members, Ho Po-wing and Lai Yiu-fai, for the main characters played by Leslie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in the iconic 1997 film "Happy Together."

Ho Po-wing began his career as a camera assistant with Wong Kar-wai's team on "Chungking Express." He later joined the crew of "Happy Together" as a cinematographer. He continued to collaborate on films such as "In the Mood for Love" and "2046," where he met his wife, Man-yi, who worked in production. He subsequently moved to mainland China to focus on web series and films.