Kam (veteran Hong Kong comic actress Sandra Ng) is making a withdrawal from an ATM on New Year's Eve when she's held up at knifepoint by the desperate Bong (Eric Tsang), who is distressed to learn that Kam doesn't even have enough money in her account to make a withdrawal. The two agree to leave and go their separate ways, when a power outage traps them in the kiosk. Kam tries to cheer Bong up with an amusing story about her life as a prostitute. This leads to a conversation that lasts through the night, and flashbacks depict Kam's evolution, from underage "fishball girl" to popular showgirl (who wins over clients doing a deft impression of Jackie Chan circa Drunken Master) to masseuse to long-in-the-tooth hooker. Outside historical events converge with Kum's story as she weaves her tale, detailing everything from her encounter with a celebrity (Andy Lau as himself) to her unrequited love for a mysterious gangster, Yeh (Wu Kwan of Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu), to her longtime friendship with a former client, Professor Chan (Tony Leung). There's also an unplanned pregnancy, which leads to an opportunistic romance with Richard (Felix Wong), a wealthy businessman. This 2002 comedy Golden Chicken, directed by Samson Chiu, spawned a 2003 sequel, Golden Chicken 2. The first film was shown at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's survey Recent Films from Hong Kong in 2004. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Review
Samson Chiu's Golden Chicken, while chock-full of culturally specific references and Cantonese puns that outsiders will probably miss, is still an enjoyably goofy, bawdy romp that also, in the character of Kam (Sandra Ng), offers a fairly cogent metaphor for Hong Kong's evolution in the decades leading up to the turnover to the Chinese and beyond. Kam's adjustment to the political and economic changes Hong Kong goes through is highlighted by Chiu's frequent inserts of news coverage of salient events, which are occasionally remarked on directly by Kam as she tells her story to the despondent James Bong (Eric Tsang). While the film offers some sociopolitical insight, its entertainment value derives mainly from Ng's tremendous gifts, as she delivers a vivacious and nuanced turn as Kam goes through her ups and downs. Though her behavior is often morally questionable, as when she seduces a rich businessman in order to have him become a father to her illegitimate child, Kam's offbeat charm and her essential humanity shine through in Ng's inspired performance. Chiu changes gears effectively and keeps up the film's bouncy pace, never letting things get too grim or maudlin, and Ng's high energy helps in this regard as well. She gets good support from Wu Kwan, and from H.K. stalwarts Eric Tsang and Tony Leung, but this is Ng's show. It's a challenging role, as Kam ages from a naïve teen (okay, the pigtails aren't wholly convincing) to a wiser, wearier, but still upbeat middle-aged woman. Highlights include her spot-on Jackie Chan impression and her fleeting but unforgettable romance with a mysterious stranger (Wu). The ending has a deus ex machina quality, but in this instance, it feels earned. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Cast
Sandra Ng - Ah Kam
Eric Tsang - James Bong
Alfred Cheung
Andy Lau; Hu Jun; Eason Chan; Kristal Tin; Chapman To; Tiffany Lee; Yap Wa Wong; Arumimihfumi; Irene Tsui
Credit
Pater Wong - Art Director, Dora Ng - Costume Designer, Samson Chiu - Director, Cheung Ka-Fai - Editor, Eric Tsang - Executive Producer, Allan Fung - Executive Producer, Peter Kam - Composer (Music Score), Yee Chung-man - Production Designer, Jacky Tang - Cinematographer, Jojo Hui - Producer, Peter Ho-Sun Chan - Producer, Kinson Tsang - Sound/Sound Designer, Matt Chow - Screenwriter, Samson Chiu - Screenwriter
Kum (Sandra Ng) is a long time Hong-Kong prostitute, when she gets locked in a cash machine vestibule with a would be thief (Eric Tsang) she tells him some stories of her life as a prostitute and how she come to be where she is today.
