Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Simple Life (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)
A Simple Life • Tao Jie • 桃姐 (2011)
Best New Film
Genre: Drama
Director: Ann Hui
Starring: Andy Lau, Deanie Ip
Language: Cantonese
Duration: 118 min.
Rating: 8.4
Summary:
For 4 generations spanning 60 years, Ah Tao has worked as a servant the Leung family. Now she looks after Roger, a movie producer who is the only member of the family still living in Hong Kong. But when she suffers a stroke, their roles become reversed, and the two of them discover what they truly mean to each other.
A Simple Life is a film directed by Ann Hui, inspired by the life of film producer Roger Lee. It premiered at the 2011 Venice International Film Festival, where actress Deanie Ip won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. It was also Hong Kong's official submission to the 2012 Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

A beautifully layered and surprisingly delicate film that explores the seemingly simple relationship between an elderly servant and the middle-aged son of a wealthy Hong Kong family. It centers on Ah Tao (Deanie Ip, in what will go down as a career defining performance), who has been employed by the same family for 60 years. Over that time, most of the family has either passed away or emigrated to the United States. The only remaining member is Roger Leung (Andy Lau), a movie producer who she raised from birth and still looks after. When she has a stroke, Roger comes to realize the importance of Ah Tao in his life, and begins to look after her in her difficult final days.

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

The setup and description show all the makings of a cloying and melodramatic tearjerker, but Hui impressively avoids all of the sentimental shortcuts, and that is a rarity in Hong Kong cinema. No manipulative tropes, silly exaggerations, or dramatic music cues here. Instead she gives us genuine emotions and detailed realism through unforced scenes which are given sufficient time and space to naturally play out. All lensed with a gentle visual style that relies on crisp but subtle camera work that goes from steady to ever so slightly shaky, and lighting that goes from brighter to dimmer, almost imperceptibly so, but at just the right moments to signal a change in tone.

It can be a difficult watch at times, witnessing the harsh and unforgiving effects of old age in such a true to life manner, but there are also plenty of lighthearted and humorous moments in this well balanced screenplay. Some of them involving cameo appearances from a number of recognizable Hong Kong celebrities, playing themselves in amusing moments that pay tribute to the film industry, as well as adding interesting depth to Roger's character.

At the very heart of the film are the two stunning and award winning lead performances. Both are actors who individually have never struck me as particularly amazing before, but Ip is pitch perfect, totally consistent and believable all the way through a mentally and at times physically demanding role; it seems a decade away from cinema has done wonders for her. Lau too impresses with a show of tempered prowess rarely seen in his action films.

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

The pair have appeared together on-screen almost a dozen times since the mid 80s, and as a result they share a wonderful chemistry as real and natural as you will ever see. Their scenes together are an absolute joy to watch, and all without any major dramatic sequences. Rather a string of appropriately simple moments infused with playful dialog and a sense of common understanding that could only come from a lifetime of familiarity.

With A Simple Life, veteran director Ann Hui solidifies her well earned status as one of the handful of current important Hong Kong filmmakers, by delivering a truly moving story and excellent character study with an honesty that echoes life itself. A deceptively straightforward picture full of poignant detail, keen insight, and outstanding acting. Making it not only the best Chinese film of the past year, but also one of the best films anywhere.
Bonjour Tristesse
A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

A Simple Life • Tao Jie (2011)

8 comments:

365 moviesandsongs365 said...

Can't wait to see this! David at tasteofcinema told me if I was going to approach Ann Hui, A Simple Life was a good place to start, which a western audience could relate to. Your rating adds to my anticipation that this is a quality new film

FrontRoomCinema said...

I really like the sound of this one BT... thanks for the uber review!




Sorry for my absence since Wednesday, I have been on a little holiday!!
Back now.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

No worries, holidays are essential. Hope you had a good one.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah a lot of her films are very localized, but this one deals with universal issues, and does it so well. Hope you get to see it soon.

d_4 said...

Watching the trailer, reading the review.. I just would never guess that this is such a well made movie. It looks good, regardless of the review I would've liked to see it, but now I'm really curious.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I know. Nothing about it really screams amazing, but it is.

David Zou said...

Great review! I do think the celebrity cameos are a little bit distractive though.Ann Hui and Johnnie To are the only 2 HK directors I still have faith in.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks. Yeah, I have to agree, every other HK director right now seem to be doing the Hollywood thing and making the same old movie again and again, and these two are the only ones right now who are not afraid to take chances. I'm also still holding out hope for WKW to turn it around.

Post a Comment