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The Way We Are (film)
Encyclopedia
The Way We Are is a 2008 Hong Kong film
directed by Ann Hui
and starring Paw Hee-Ching
, Chan Lai-wun, Leung Chun-lung and Idy Chan
.
. Paw works in the local supermarket while Leung is a Form 5 (i.e. grade 11) student who is waiting for his HKCEE results during summer holidays.
Paw met Chan Lai-wun as she also becomes one of the supermarket staff and begins to help her out. Chan wants to buy a television set but is turned off by the transport fee. Paw askes Leung to come to the electrical store and helps her carry it up to her public housing apartment and saves the transport fee. She returns the favour by giving Paw a bag of expensive Chinese mushrooms.
Paw's mother falls sick and Leung visits her in the hospital with his cousin. Their grandmother demands swallow's nest
porridge for her meals which is not fulfilled.
Through her deceased daughter, Chan has a grandson who lives with her son-in-law, who has since re-married. Chan purchased gifts for them and goes with Paw to meet them in Shatin, but her grandson does not show up and her gifts are rejected by her son-in-law. She gives them to Paw instead, who agrees to safekeep them for the time being.
Leung meets his school teacher (Idy Chan) and she invites him to help out at the school when he returns for F6 and he duly agrees.
Paw's two younger brothers are doing well in life, thanks to Paw's financial support during their university years overseas. One of them, played by Clifton Ko
, talks to Leung and said he and his younger brother will support him financially to study overseas if he so desires. He replies that he will decide after seeing his HKCEE results. At the end of the movie, Paw, Leung and Chan are seen happily having dinner together in Tin Shui Wai as Leung got satisfactory results in his exam and got promoted to F6.
According to Perry Lam of Muse
, The Way We Are is a great film in a small way and, in its tribute to the resilience of life, serves as an apt, shining metaphor for the filmmaking career of Hui herself.'
15th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
directed by Ann Hui
Ann Hui
Ann Hui On-Wah is a Hong Kong film director, film producer and occasional screenwriter, one of the most critically acclaimed amongst the Hong Kong New Wave.-Early life:...
and starring Paw Hee-Ching
Paw Hee-Ching
Nina Paw Hee-Ching is a Hong Kong-based actress. She was born on July 20, 1949. Her parents are famous Chinese actor Bao Fong and Liu Su. Her younger brother Peter Pau is Academy Awards-winning and five-times Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer...
, Chan Lai-wun, Leung Chun-lung and Idy Chan
Idy Chan
Idy Chan Yuk Lin is a popular Hong Kong TV actress, especially during the 1980s.-Career:She joined showbiz when she was 17 in 1977. She is most famous for her portrayal of three of the characters from The Condor Trilogy; her heavenly role of Xiaolongnü along with Andy Lau as Yang Guo in the 1983...
.
Plot
Paw Hee-Ching and Leung Chun-lung plays a mother and son who live in Tin Shui WaiTin Shui Wai
Tin Shui Wai is an area of Hong Kong, located in Yuen Long District, in the northwestern part of the New Territories. Originally a gei wai fish pond area, the ponds were reclaimed for the development of Tin Shui Wai New Town in the late 1980s...
. Paw works in the local supermarket while Leung is a Form 5 (i.e. grade 11) student who is waiting for his HKCEE results during summer holidays.
Paw met Chan Lai-wun as she also becomes one of the supermarket staff and begins to help her out. Chan wants to buy a television set but is turned off by the transport fee. Paw askes Leung to come to the electrical store and helps her carry it up to her public housing apartment and saves the transport fee. She returns the favour by giving Paw a bag of expensive Chinese mushrooms.
Paw's mother falls sick and Leung visits her in the hospital with his cousin. Their grandmother demands swallow's nest
Bird's nest soup
Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. A few species of swift, the cave swifts, are renowned for building the saliva nests used to produce the unique texture of this soup....
porridge for her meals which is not fulfilled.
Through her deceased daughter, Chan has a grandson who lives with her son-in-law, who has since re-married. Chan purchased gifts for them and goes with Paw to meet them in Shatin, but her grandson does not show up and her gifts are rejected by her son-in-law. She gives them to Paw instead, who agrees to safekeep them for the time being.
Leung meets his school teacher (Idy Chan) and she invites him to help out at the school when he returns for F6 and he duly agrees.
Paw's two younger brothers are doing well in life, thanks to Paw's financial support during their university years overseas. One of them, played by Clifton Ko
Clifton Ko
-Filmography as director:-External links:* *...
, talks to Leung and said he and his younger brother will support him financially to study overseas if he so desires. He replies that he will decide after seeing his HKCEE results. At the end of the movie, Paw, Leung and Chan are seen happily having dinner together in Tin Shui Wai as Leung got satisfactory results in his exam and got promoted to F6.
Critical reception
The film received great critical acclaim.According to Perry Lam of Muse
Muse (Hong Kong Magazine)
Muse is a bilingual Hong Kong-based multimedia publisher specializing in content related to Hong Kong's art and culture scene.. Until December 2010, Muse published an award-winning monthly arts and culture magazine...
, The Way We Are is a great film in a small way and, in its tribute to the resilience of life, serves as an apt, shining metaphor for the filmmaking career of Hui herself.'
Awards and nominations
28th 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,...
- Won: Best Director (Ann HuiAnn HuiAnn Hui On-Wah is a Hong Kong film director, film producer and occasional screenwriter, one of the most critically acclaimed amongst the Hong Kong New Wave.-Early life:...
) - Won: Best Screenplay (Lou Shiu Wa)
- Won: Best Actress (Paw Hee-ChingPaw Hee-ChingNina Paw Hee-Ching is a Hong Kong-based actress. She was born on July 20, 1949. Her parents are famous Chinese actor Bao Fong and Liu Su. Her younger brother Peter Pau is Academy Awards-winning and five-times Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer...
) - Won: Best Supporting Actress (Chan Lai Wun)
- Nominated: Best Film
- Nominated: Best New Performer (Juno Leung)
15th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong, China since 1995. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the members of the society...
- Won: Best Film
- Won: Best Director (Ann HuiAnn HuiAnn Hui On-Wah is a Hong Kong film director, film producer and occasional screenwriter, one of the most critically acclaimed amongst the Hong Kong New Wave.-Early life:...
) - Won: Best Actress (Paw Hee-ChingPaw Hee-ChingNina Paw Hee-Ching is a Hong Kong-based actress. She was born on July 20, 1949. Her parents are famous Chinese actor Bao Fong and Liu Su. Her younger brother Peter Pau is Academy Awards-winning and five-times Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer...
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