Review of A Simple Life (2012) by Flo W — 24 Apr 2012

I saw the quietly dignified "A Simple Life" tonight with the amazing Andy Lau and Deanie Ip in the title roles. I couldn't believe that I was watching a quieter Hong Kong film with such an affirming life and death conceit.

I truly appreciated hearing the Cantonese language and paid more attention to that rather than reading the English subtitles. The Cantonese was really rich and the translations didn't nearly do the film justice.

That said, my heart was engaged with the care and affection expressed by Andy Lau's character of Roger and Deanie Ip's character of Ah Tao or Peach Older Sister. The film made me think about my own mortality and what decisions I might make about Elder care if and when necessary.

Director Ann Hsui's scenes, especially those in the convalescent home, touched the right buttons. The sub-plot of the older woman waiting for her absent son to come to her was poignant. In the end, it was the daughter who packed her mother's belongings after the older woman's passing.

It was the daughter who sobbed at the convalescent home that her mother had lived in for years. What an amazing film that addressed the universal theme of life and death.