A Simple Life
| A Simple Life | |
|---|---|
 Venice poster | |
| Directed by | Ann Hui |
| Written by | Susan Chan |
| Produced by | Lee Yan Lam |
| Starring | Andy Lau Deanie Ip Wang Fuli Anthony Wong Paul Chun Qin Hailu |
| Cinematography | Yu Lik-wai |
| Edited by | Kwong Chi-Leung 韦淑芬 |
| Music by | 罗永晖 |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Distribution Workshop |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Budget | RMB30 million (US$5.4 million)[2] |
| Box office | US$3.58 million[3] |
A Simple Life (Chinese: 桃姐; pinyin: Táo Jiě; Jyutping: Tou4 Ze2[4]), also known as Sister Peach, is a 2011 Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip.[5] Ip, in the titled role as Sister Peach, won the Best Actress Award in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.[6] Originally, this film was decided to be the last work of Ann Hui. However, with the film's big success, Ann Hui changed her mind and was willing to continue her career.
Although it is often said that it is the first collaboration of Lau and Ip since 1988's The Truth,[7][8] their last collaboration was actually 1999's Prince Charming. Production of the film officially began during Chinese New Year. It is filmed in Mei Foo Sun Chuen.[9] Production was wrapped on 6 April 2011 after two months of filming.[10] The film competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.[11] It was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards,[12][13] but it did not make the final shortlist.[14]
Plot
Inspired by a true story of the producer, Roger Lee, and his servant, the film tells about a heartwarming relationship between a young master of a big family, Roger (Lau) and the servant of the family who raised him, Sister Peach (Ip).
Cast
- Andy Lau as Roger Leung (梁羅傑), a young master a big family
- Deanie Ip as Sister Peach / Chung Chun To (桃姐/鍾春桃), a servant
- Wang Fuli as Roger's mother
- Anthony Wong
- Paul Chun
- Qin Hailu as Ms Choi
- Sammo Hung
- Tsui Hark
- Chapman To
- Jim Chim
- Law Lan
- Elena Kong
- Angelababy
Critical reception
Roger Ebert gave the film 4 stars. He wrote, "It expresses hope in human nature. It is one of the year's best films."[15] Hollywood Reporter 's Neil Young wrote that "Film festivals looking for undemanding crowd-pleasers will want to check it out, even at its currently excessive 118-minute running time – much too long for what is indeed a pretty "simple" affair."[16] Variety 's Justin Chang commented: "Fittingly for a film about the challenges and rewards of looking after the sick and aging, this well-observed, pleasantly meandering dramedy requires a measure of patience, and some judicious trimming would improve its chances for export. But the moving, never tearjerking lead performances by Andy Lau and Deanie Ip are strong selling points for Hui's following at home and abroad."[17]
Awards and nominations
A Simple Life is an official selection for the competition of 68th Venice International Film Festival, and it won 4 awards. Deanie Ip won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress by her role in this film. She is also the first Hong Kong woman to be the winner of the prize. In March, she has also become the first Hong Kong woman to win Asian Film Award for Best Actress. Except this, the director Ann Hui has become the first female to win the Lifetime Achievement Award. At the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony, A Simple Life won 5 major prizes (film, director, screenplay, actor, actress), repeating the situation of Summer Snow in 1996, which was also directed by Ann Hui. Ann Hui has become the only director winning most Best Director Awards (4 times in total). Deanie Ip has also become the oldest Best Actress Award winner at the age of 64.
| List of Accolades | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| 68th Venice International Film Festival | Golden Lion | Ann Hui | Nominated |
| Volpi Cup for Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| Equal Opportunities Award | Ann Hui | Won | |
| Signis Award – Honorable Mention | Ann Hui | Won | |
| La Navicella Award | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 48th Golden Horse Awards | Best Film | Focus Films Limited, Sil-Metropole Organisation, Bona Film Group | Nominated |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Won | |
| Best Leading Actor | Andy Lau | Won | |
| Best Leading Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Susan Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Kwong Chi-leung, Wai Suk-fan | Nominated | |
| 84th Academy Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Ann Hui (Hong Kong entry) | Not Nominated |
| 15th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival – Official Competition EurAsia Jury Awards | Grand Prix for Best Eurasian Film | Ann Hui | Won |
| Jury Prize for the Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| FICC Awards | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 18th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Film | Roger Lee | Won |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Susan Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| 2011 Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards | Most Recommended Film of the Year | A Simple Life (with Let the Bullets Fly, Overheard 2) | Won |
| Most Outstanding Director of the Year | Ann Hui (with Jiang Wen, Tsui Hark) | Won | |
| Special Honour Award | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 6th Asian Film Awards | Best Actor | Andy Lau | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| People’s Choice for Favorite Actor | Andy Lau | Won | |
| People’s Choice for Favorite Actress | Deanie Ip | Nominated | |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 4th Okinawa International Film Festival | Peace Category: Uminchu Prize Grand Prix | Ann Hui | Won |
| Jury Special Prize Golden SHISA Award | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 31st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | Roger Lee, Ann Hui, Chan Pui-wah | Won |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Susan Chan | Won | |
| Best Actor | Andy Lau | Won | |
| Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Paul Chun | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Qin Hailu | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Yu Lik-wai | Nominated | |
| 1st Hong Kong Salento International Film Festival | Salento Award | Deanie Ip | Won |
| 12th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Film | A Simple Life | Nominated |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Susan Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Andy Lau | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Deanie Ip | Won | |
| Film Honoured by 100 Medias in a Year | A Simple Life | Won | |
| Filmmaker Honoured by 100 Medias in a Year | Ann Hui | Nominated | |
| Filmmaker Honoured by 100 Medias in a Year | Andy Lau | Nominated | |
| 21st Shanghai Film Critics Award | Best 10 Chinese Films | A Simple Life (with other 9 films) | Won |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 10th Paris International Film Festival | Audience's Most Favorite Film | Ann Hui | Won |
| Best Film Selected by Students | Ann Hui | Won | |
| 33rd Durban International Film Festival | Best Actress Award | Deanie Ip | Won |
See also
- List of submissions to the 84th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Hong Kong submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ^ "Andy Lau and Deanie Ip's "A Simple Life" Premieres at Venice Film Festival to Standing Ovation". TVB News blog
- ^ Frater, Patrick (2 March 2011). "Lau and Ip reunite for Sister Peach". Film Business Asia.
- ^ Liz Shackleton (2012-7-6). "Hong Kong box office soars by 19% in first half of 2012". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2012-7-7.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ http://www.881903.com/DesktopModules/PlayAudio/Player.aspx?pt=1&pm=1&id=5707886&progName=&progHost=&progTimeCaption=
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 133. ISBN 978-1908215017.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ "Deanie Ip on 'A Simple Life' and Winning at Venice". Wall Street Journal. 11 September 2011.
- ^ "Andy Lau and Deanie Yip Rejoin in 'Tao Jie'". 24 February 2011.
- ^ Ford, Toni (7 March 2011). "Andy Lau reunited with Deannie Yip in 'Sister Peach'". Asian Movie Pulse.
- ^ "ANDY LAU AND DEANIE IP TEAM UP TO PLAY MASTER AND SERVANT". 24 February 2011.
- ^ "[2011.04.06] ANDY LAU CHANTS LONG LIVE HONG KONG FILM".
- ^ "A Simple Life to compete in 68th Venice Film Festival".
- ^ "Hong Kong makes it Simple". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "63 Countries Vie for 2011 Foreign Language Film Oscar". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
- ^ "9 Foreign Language Films Vie for Oscar". Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "A Simple Life". Chicago Sun Times. 8 August 2012.
- ^ Hong Kong veteran director Ann Hui brings together two of its major stars, Deanie Ip and Andy Lau, for a crowd-pleasing drama. Young, Neil. Hollywood Reporter. 6 September 2011.
- ^ A Simple Life (Tao jie) (Hong Kong) Vareity. By Justin Chang Sep. 7, 2011.