A Simple Life (PG)
Starring: Andy Lau, Deannie Yip
Contained within Ann Hui's gentle drama of role-reversal is a reminder of generational duty. Deanie Ip plays Ah Toa, a maid who's been in service 40 years to a Hong Kong family, now mostly disappeared to the US.
Only youngest son Roger (Andy Lau), a film producer, remains in the apartment. When Ah Toa suffers a disabling stroke and goes into a care home, the tables are turned, and Roger slowly realises his debt of responsibility to the old lady. The growing closeness between them is touchingly portrayed (Ip is real-life godmother to Lau) though its drifting final half-hour could have been usefully cut. Once the alternative to a lonesome old age has been established, the film hasn't anywhere left to go but "the only end of age".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies