A Simple Life

A Simple Life directed by Ann Hui was based on the true story of producer Roger Lee (cast by Andy Lau) and his servant Sister Peach (cast by Deanie Ip) who has worked for his family for more than 60 years. The film focus on the part of Roger Lee did not have time to take care of Sister Peach after she had a stroke. A director is most centrally responsible for a film's form, style and meaning (Thompson, Kritstin & Bordwell, David, 1994). Some of the significant motifs of Ann Hui could be found in A Simple Life.

Explores Personal Memories

The film was more like a biographical documentary depicting the last part of the life of Sister Peach. It filmed in chronological order without any flashback which stick to the real life, just like The Way We Are. Although there may be a slightly dramatic effect in the film, Ann Hui handled them discreetly to make the film more natural and smoother. Ann Hui investigated around thirty nursing homes in Hong Kong for the film preparation. In the film, Roger Lee swept the floor and read the instruction of the washing machine showed how well Sister Peach had been taking care of him. Roger Lee was a busy producer that worked for days and nights just like most of the Hongkongers. His story reminded the audiences to pay more attention and learn to treasure the ones who love you and you love.

Sense of Women' s Independence

Sister Peach cast by Deanie Ip played the central role in this film and the Chinese name of the film also called "桃姐". When she knew that she cannot look after Roger Lee, she was resolute to move into the nursing home. She did not want to be a burden of Roger. Ann Hui showed how strong and tough this old lady was. The scene that Sister Peach encountered with Uncle Kin cast by Paul Chun in the nursing home were the only 'romance relations' shown in the film. Later, as Ann Hui's practice, Uncle Kin was discovered to pay for prostitutes to prove that there were not any fantasy in the relationship.

Self Projection on the Film

Ann Hui used to put herself projection in to her film such as Song of Exile. In the TV feature called "無憾", she expressed her opinion that there were a rare number of film that was talking about elderly, she hope this film could be a record of the society of this group of people. It was meaningful and valuable to show some social issues such as aging, gender inequality, etc throughout the film. Having her fear of aging, Ann Hui who is already 65 reflects the positive situation of elderly's home in her film. She broke the stereotyped image of an elderly home which was miserable and humiliated. Ann Hui stated her view of aging in the last part of the film: while Sister Peach was going to leave the world, Roger still choose to go to the mainland to work. Her believe is that becoming old is not terrible, just go with the flow.

MA KA MAN CARMAN (10487445)