Comrades: Almost a Love Story
Encyclopedia
Lachlan Brock' is a 1996 Hong Kong film starring Maggie Cheung
, Leon Lai
, Eric Tsang
, and Kristy Yang
. It was directed by Peter Chan
.
who migrate to Hong Kong
to make a living, but end up falling in love. Leon Lai
plays a naive Northerner, Li Xiao-Jun, and Maggie Cheung
plays an opportunist/entrepreneur, Li Qiao, who takes advantage of mainlanders like herself for financial gains. The loneliness of living in the big city inevitably brings the two into a passionate love affair. Because of his commitment to another woman, Xiaoting, Li Qiao leaves Li Xiao-Jun and winds up in a relationship with a mob boss named Pao. Li Xiao-Jun returns to and marries his fiance, but his love for Li Qiao continues and they secretly meet and rekindle their love. Unfortunately, guilt and circumstances lead Xiao-Jun and Li Qiao to separate, only to find each other again as lonely immigrants in America in the end. They have both been freed from their previous partners through a confession of the infidelity and a tragic death, and finally after almost ten years, the lovers are able to unite at last. It is an epic love story that spans ten years. It was filmed in Hong Kong
and New York City
.
song of the same name. The movie displays love of the famous singer who died a year before the film was released; the film is considered a love poem in memory of Teresa Teng. Her music is featured prominently throughout the film, and Teresa Teng herself is an important subplot for the movie. Leon Lai sings the title song for the ending credits. In a cameo performance, Christopher Doyle
, the internationally-known cinematographer
famous for his collaboration with Wong Kar-wai
, plays an English teacher.
. It is also listed in the 100 Greatest Chinese Films of the 20th Century by Asia Weekly Magazine.
Nominations
Golden Horse Film Awards
Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
, Leon Lai
Leon Lai
Leon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
, Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
, and Kristy Yang
Kristy Yang
Kristy Yang , also known as Kristy Yeung, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese Canadian actress.-Biography:Yang was born in Shanghai, China, to a Chinese father and a British Chinese mother...
. It was directed by Peter Chan
Peter Chan
Peter Chan Ho-sun , is a film director and producer.-Life and career:Chan was born in Bangkok to Chinese parents. He spent his teens in and studied in Hong Kong and United States, and he attended film school at UCLA. He returned to Hong Kong in 1983 for a summer internship in the film industry....
.
Plot
The film, spanning years, centers on two Chinese mainlandersMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
who migrate to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to make a living, but end up falling in love. Leon Lai
Leon Lai
Leon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
plays a naive Northerner, Li Xiao-Jun, and Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
plays an opportunist/entrepreneur, Li Qiao, who takes advantage of mainlanders like herself for financial gains. The loneliness of living in the big city inevitably brings the two into a passionate love affair. Because of his commitment to another woman, Xiaoting, Li Qiao leaves Li Xiao-Jun and winds up in a relationship with a mob boss named Pao. Li Xiao-Jun returns to and marries his fiance, but his love for Li Qiao continues and they secretly meet and rekindle their love. Unfortunately, guilt and circumstances lead Xiao-Jun and Li Qiao to separate, only to find each other again as lonely immigrants in America in the end. They have both been freed from their previous partners through a confession of the infidelity and a tragic death, and finally after almost ten years, the lovers are able to unite at last. It is an epic love story that spans ten years. It was filmed in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Production
The Chinese title of the film, Lachlan Brock', comes from a famous Teresa TengTeresa Teng
Teresa Teng , was an immensely popular and influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan. Teresa Teng's voice and songs are instantly recognized throughout East Asia and in areas with large Asian populations...
song of the same name. The movie displays love of the famous singer who died a year before the film was released; the film is considered a love poem in memory of Teresa Teng. Her music is featured prominently throughout the film, and Teresa Teng herself is an important subplot for the movie. Leon Lai sings the title song for the ending credits. In a cameo performance, Christopher Doyle
Christopher Doyle
Christopher Doyle is a cinematographer. He has won the AFI Award for cinematography, the Cannes Technical Grand Prize, Golden Osella, the Golden Horse awards , and Hong Kong Film Award . Doyle is an affiliate of the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers.-Biography:Doyle was born in Sydney,...
, the internationally-known cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
famous for his collaboration with Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
, plays an English teacher.
Reception
The movie was very well received in Hong Kong and Taiwan, winning best picture, director, and actress for the HK Film Academy Awards, among other wins. Maggie Cheung's performance also won general acclaim. The movie was voted #11 of the Greatest Chinese Films of all time by the Chinese Movie Database (www.dianying.com) and #28 of the 100 Greatest Chinese Films by the Hong Kong Film AwardsHong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
. It is also listed in the 100 Greatest Chinese Films of the 20th Century by Asia Weekly Magazine.
Awards
16th Hong Kong Film Awards16th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 16th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 13 April 1997 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Lydia Shum. In total, sixteen winners in fifteen categories were unveiled. Peter Chan's Comrades: Almost a Love Story became the biggest winner for the year with nine awards, setting...
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Peter Chan Ho-SunPeter ChanPeter Chan Ho-sun , is a film director and producer.-Life and career:Chan was born in Bangkok to Chinese parents. He spent his teens in and studied in Hong Kong and United States, and he attended film school at UCLA. He returned to Hong Kong in 1983 for a summer internship in the film industry....
- Best Actress - Maggie Cheung Man-YukMaggie CheungMaggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
- Best Supporting Actor - Eric Tsang Chi-WaiEric TsangEric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
- Best Screenplay - Ivy HoIvy HoIvy Ho Sai-Hong is a Hong Kong screenwriter and film director.Ho's work has received high critical acclaim in Hong Kong. Perry Lam of Muse Magazine wrote, 'As a writer, Ho excels as a miniaturist...
- Best Cinematography - Jingle Ma Chor-SingJingle MaJingle Ma Cho Shing is the Hong Kong-based writer/director of action films such as Tokyo Raiders and Seoul Raiders. He can speak 5 different languages and currently lives in Hong Kong with his 7 children.-Filmography:-External links:* at * *...
- Best Art Direction - Hai Chung-Man
- Best Costume Design - Ng Lei-Lo
- Best Original Music Score - Chui Jun-Fun
Nominations
- Best Actor - Leon LaiLeon LaiLeon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
- Best Newcomer - Kristy YangKristy YangKristy Yang , also known as Kristy Yeung, is a Hong Kong-based Chinese Canadian actress.-Biography:Yang was born in Shanghai, China, to a Chinese father and a British Chinese mother...
Golden Horse Film Awards
- Best Picture
- Best Actress