The Way We Are (film)
| The Way We Are | |
|---|---|
 Film poster |
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| Directed by | Ann Hui |
| Written by | Lou Shiu-Wa |
| Starring | Paw Hee-Ching Leung Chun-lung Idy Chan Chan Lai-wun Vincent Chui Clifton Ko |
| Music by | Chan Si-lok |
| Cinematography | Charlie Lam |
| Editing by | Chow Cheung-kan |
| Release date(s) |
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| Country | Hong Kong |
The Way We Are (天水圍的日與夜) is a 2008 Hong Kong film directed by Ann Hui and starring Paw Hee-Ching, Chan Lai-wun, Leung Chun-lung and Idy Chan.
Contents |
Plot[edit]
Paw Hee-Ching and Leung Chun-lung plays a mother and son who live in Tin Shui Wai. Paw works in the local supermarket while Leung is a Form 5 (i.e. grade 11) student who is waiting for his HKCEE results during summer holidays.
Paw met Chan Lai-wun as she also becomes one of the supermarket staff and begins to help her out. Chan wants to buy a television set but is turned off by the transport fee. Paw asks Leung to come to the electrical store and helps her carry it up to her public housing apartment and saves the transport fee. She returns the favour by giving Paw a bag of expensive Chinese mushrooms.
Paw's mother falls sick and Leung visits her in the hospital with his cousin. Their grandmother demands swallow's nest porridge for her meals which is not fulfilled.
Through her deceased daughter, Chan has a grandson who lives with her son-in-law, who has since re-married. Chan purchased gifts for them and goes with Paw to meet them in Shatin, but her grandson does not show up and her gifts are rejected by her son-in-law. She gives them to Paw instead, who agrees to safekeep them for the time being.
Leung meets his school teacher (Idy Chan) and she invites him to help out at the school when he returns for F6 and he duly agrees.
Paw's two younger brothers are doing well in life, thanks to Paw's financial support during their university years overseas. One of them, played by Clifton Ko, talks to Leung and said he and his younger brother will support him financially to study overseas if he so desires. He replies that he will decide after seeing his HKCEE results. At the end of the movie, Paw, Leung and Chan are seen happily having dinner together in Tin Shui Wai as Leung got satisfactory results in his exam and got promoted to F6.
Critical reception[edit]
The film received great critical acclaim.
According to Perry Lam of Muse, 'The Way We Are is a great film in a small way and, in its tribute to the resilience of life, serves as an apt, shining metaphor for the filmmaking career of Hui herself.'[1]
Awards and nominations[edit]
- Won: Best Director (Ann Hui)
- Won: Best Screenplay (Lou Shiu Wa)
- Won: Best Actress (Paw Hee-Ching)
- Won: Best Supporting Actress (Chan Lai Wun)
- Nominated: Best Film
- Nominated: Best New Performer (Juno Leung)
15th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
- Won: Best Film
- Won: Best Director (Ann Hui)
- Won: Best Actress (Paw Hee-Ching)
References[edit]
- ^ Lam, Perry (7 2008). "Close to the bone". Muse Magazine (18): 102.
External links[edit]
- The 32nd Hong Kong International Film Festival
- Hong Kong Movie DataBase
- Hong Kong Cinemagic
- LoveHKFilm.com
- The Way We Are at the Internet Movie Database
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Postmodern Life of My Aunt |
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for Best Film 2008 |
Succeeded by KJ: Music and Life |
