Alan Lau, a journalist and documentary director, lived very near the site of the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. He witnessed numerous events, captured every moment on film, and… left Hong Kong for good. Rather be Ashes Than Dust is a memoir of his four-year journey centered on the Hong Kong protests. Narrated in the first-person voiceover, the film is rich with reflections and contemplations, most of which are intertwined with feelings of guilt. The dilemma he repeatedly faces, between the journalist’s objectivity and ethical considerations, amid the particularly violent scenes have burdened him with remorse. Nevertheless, the strength of this film ultimately lies in the meticulous documentation through his camera lens. Rather be Ashes Than Dust is a poignant farewell to the intense and impassioned days on the streets in 2019—it is a sorrowful eulogy for the Hong Kong that has lost its soul. (KANG Sowon)