A Simple Life

Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine4.0

ACTION! - FEMALE 4FRONT: THE HUI'S PERSPECTIVEI couldn’t find anything about this, but I am sure that’s the cat from The Way You Are and this, along with Summer Snow, shares a lot of its themes and focuses on the elders and the way they go about their lives as they near the end of it. So either they are all part of a trilogy or maybe I didn’t notice it and there’s a whole AHCU (Ann Hui Cinematic Universe) and that cat is the link to all of them. Either way, that’s a damn adorable fluffy kitty!In many ways this does feel like a fantastic and logical way to cap off such a brilliant career, as it was initially intended by Hui. It feels deeply personal and resonates with her, perhaps because she was closer to the age and challenges Ip faces throughout the film than she was years ago when she worked on the aforementioned films. Andy Lau is great whether he’s taking down some evil guys or being the bad guy himself in a thrilling action film, as well as in films like this where he gets to pull the pedal down and show more nuance through those moments of silence and his physicality. Despite her vulnerability, Deanie's performance is both endearing and heartbreaking. Sister Peach is such a relatable character.All in all, the story is heartwarming and moving, demonstrating that despite the bleakness of these times, human nature may still hold hope. I agree with some critics that 2 hours was way too long for a film like this.ACTION! - FEMALE 4FRONT: THE HUI'S PERSPECTIVETODAY SCHEDULEA Simple LifeMr. JonesOur Time Will ComeLove After LoveCharlatan

Jonathan White4.5

To state it simply, Ann Hui’s A Simple Life is touching, honest, charming, joyful, and refreshingly uncomplicated. I never thought I’d say this, but by comparison Michael Heneke’s Amour, which tells a somewhat similar story, feels like a melodrama.Based on the true life experience of producer / writer Roger Lee Yam-lan, A Simple Life tells the story of beloved family maid, Ah Tao, who suffers a minor stroke. Although not incapacitated, the event signals a sea-change for her. After 60 years of service and four generations of family, it’s time to retire. Insisting that she not be a burden, she chooses to move into an elder home to live out her final years. Refusing to accept money that would allow for a more comfortable facility, she insists on selecting a more modest option that is within her own means.What follows is the story of Ah Tao and Roger, her now middle aged charge, and their time together in this next and final phase of her life. Director Ann Hui slowly reveals these two gentle souls to us through reminiscences, as well as their genuine love and respect for one another. There’s no plot, no drama, no tugged heartstrings, just a wonderful relationship that’s filled with stories and love and laughter.Andy Lau, as the somewhat successful film producer Roger, gives a great performance, as usual. Lau has a particular talent for playing a quiet, modest, but strong character and he fits this role like a glove. Make no mistake, this is Deannie Ip’s film, though. Her humble Ah Tao is completely disarming. She exudes grace and wisdom with just a simple look in her eyes.Seeing a film such as this is simply uplifting; it’s not just the wonderful performances and naturalistic story, but rather that a film with so little traditional structure and narrative can succeed so well. A wonderful gem.

Jason Huang (黃擎元)4.5

I knew I'd love this twenty minutes in but this just got better and better as it went on. It takes a decently sentimental approach to the story but it is far less sensational or overdramatic than I would have expected from a premise like this. It would have been so easy for Ann Hui to throw in a random fight scene between the two leads, or have 桃姐 suffer some kind of injury while nobody is watching her, but the screenplay never adds any unnecessary drama. Deanie Ip and Andy Lau have phenomenal chemistry, which, I guess, is pretty unsurprising, as they have worked together countless times.We've seen so many movies about how difficult old age can be, but very few focus on the happy moments. 桃姐 suffers multiple strokes throughout the movie, but overall, the movie is mostly happy/bittersweet. It doesn't sugarcoat how hard getting old is (there are a few deaths within the old people's home that were just really heartbreaking), but it's a joy to see Roger take care of 桃姐 out of sheer gratitude and his love for her. My favorite scene is definitely the part where he took her to his movie premiere.Gotta admit that Ann Hui is a huge blind spot for me in terms of famous Chinese-language directors. Will definitely be checking out her other films in the near future.