A Simple Life

A Simple Life
Venice poster
Directed by	Ann Hui
Produced by	Lee Yan Lam
Written by	Susan Chan
Starring	Andy Lau Deanie Ip Wang Fuli Anthony Wong Paul Chun Qin Hailu
Music by	罗永晖
Cinematography	Yu Lik-wai
Editing by	Kwong Chi-Leung 韦淑芬
Studio	Focus Films Limited Sil-Metropole Organisation Bona Film Group
Distributed by	Distribution Workshop
Release date(s)	5 September 2011 (2011-09-05) (Venice[1]) 8 March 2012 (2012-03-08) (China) 9 March 2012 (2012-03-09) (Hong Kong)
Running time	118 minutes
Country	‹See Tfd› Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	RMB30 million (US$5.4 million)[2]

A Simple Life (Chinese: 桃姐; Mandarin Pinyin: Táo Jiě; Jyutping: Tou4 Ze2^[3]), also known as Sister Peach, is a 2011 Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip.^[4] Ip, in the titled role as Sister Peach, won the Best Actress Award in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.^[5] 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 be 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,^[6][7] 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.^[8] Production was wrapped on 6 April 2011 after two months of filming.^[9] The film competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.^[10] It was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards,^[11][12] but it did not make the final shortlist.^[13]

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

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."^[14] 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 rep strong selling points for Hui's following at home and abroad."^[15]

Awards and nominations

A Simple Life is an official selection for the competion 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.

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

External links

• Official website
• A Simple Life at the Internet Movie Database