'A Simple Life' sweeps HK Film Awards
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 16, 2012
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Hong Kong actor Andy Lau (L) and actress Deanie Ip celebrate winning the Best Actor and Best Actress awards for "A Simple Life" at the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards, April 15, 2012. [Photo: CFP] |
"A Simple Life" swept through the major categories at the Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday.
Based on a true story, the heart-warming drama about an elderly servant and her young master hauled in five awards for best film, best director, best screenplay, best actor and best actress at what was considered Hong Kong's "Oscars."
"I would like to thank Hong Kong," Ann Hui, holding her best director award for "A Simple Life," said at the star-studded ceremony held at the harbor-front Hong Kong Cultural Center. "I grew up here and I received my education here. This city has given me a lot of inspirations."
With this win, Ann Hui became the undisputed No.1 director in Hong Kong Film Awards history. Thus far, she has received four best director gongs – previous three awards went to her "Boat People" (1982), "Summer Snow" (1994) and "The Way We Are" (2008). "A Simple Life" was also her fourth best film award, the previous three being "Boat People" (1982), "Summer Snow" (1994) and "Ordinary Heroes" (1998).
The awards for best actor and best actress went to the film's leading roles played by Andy Lau and Deanie Ip.
Ip, 64, played a servant who wants to move into a nursing home after suffering a stroke in "A Simple Life," for which she also won the best actress award at Taiwan's Golden Horse Film Awards, the Venice Film Festival and Asian Film Awards.
"I only won this award in my 60s – this could be the first and last time," she said in an emotional speech, referring to the Hong Kong Film Awards. "I had thought I will never win this award as I have already reached my 60s. If it were not Andy Lau and Ann Hui, I will never have this chance to stand at this stage."
The veteran actress previously has won best supporting actress awards for "Flower Street Era" (1983) and "Dances with the Dragon" (1991).
Lau, one of Asia's most successful movie stars and singers, was crowned best actor for the third time.
"This is an acknowledgement of my contribution to Hong Kong's film industry," Lau said to loud applause from adoring fans. This was the third best actor award for Lau, who previously won the awards for "Running out of Time" (1999) and "Running on Karma" (2003).
Tsui Hark's 3D extravaganza "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate," starring kung fu superstar Jet Li, led the race with 13 nominations and won five prizes, mostly in the technical categories. It snapped up honors for best film editing, action choreography, art direction, sound design and visual effects.
To recognize increasing collaborations between Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland filmmakers in recent years that tapped the lucrative mainland market, the award this year added the new Best Film of Mainland and Taiwan category. The inaugural award was won by the hit teen romantic comedy "You are the Apple of My Eye."
The low-budget film, which marked the directorial debut of popular web novelist Ko Chingteng – better known for his pen name Giddens Ko – has generated buzz in box offices in Taiwan, Hong Kong and southeast Asia. "You are the Apple of My Eye" has set record as the highest grossing Chinese movie in Hong Kong history.
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Giddens Ko kissed the film's leading actor Kai Ko on the mouth, shocking everybody in the arena. [China.org.cn] |
After receiving the award, the excited Giddens Ko kissed the film's leading actor Kai Ko on the mouth, shocking everybody in the arena before most realized it might be a reenactment of the movie's ending scene.
Taiwan singer Jam Hsiao, who rose to stardom through a TV reality show, won the award for best new performer for his role in "The Killer Who Never Kills," also based on a popular novel by Giddens.
Although nominated for 13 awards, mainland blockbuster "Let the Bullets Fly" by Jiang Wen failed to make an impact at the ceremony, winning only best costume and makeup design for William Chang Suk Ping.
Still, Hong Kong director Gordon Chan sees the nominations of "Let the Bullets Fly" a delightful change. "This year, we are paying attention to actors we otherwise didn't give much attention to. The spotlight is now on them. You can see how diverse the selection is by looking at the nomination list. The list covers almost every genre," Chan said.
According to Chan, art-house and independent movies tend to rack up awards when the film market is prosperous. When the film market is not as saturated, commercial movies, including comedies, are most likely to win.
"There was a saying that 'if [a film doesn't] earn money, then it can win an award,'" Chan said. "The HKFA was seen as a kind of consolation. But things have changed. It turns out that both can happen."
This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to 76-year-old writer Ni Kuang, also known as Ngai Hong, for his contributions to literature works and screen plays over the past five decades. Ni's works cover a wide range of genres, but he is most famous for his martial arts fantasy novels, science fictions, and detective novels.
Best Film
"A Simple Life"
Best Director
Ann Hui On Wah (A Simple Life)
Best Screenplay
Susan Chan Suk Yin (A Simple Life)
Best Actor
Andy Lau Tak Wah (A Simple Life)
Best Actress
Deanie Ip (A Simple Life)
Best Supporting Actor
Lo Hoi Pang (Life Without Principle)
Best Supporting Actress
So Hang Shuen (Life Without Principle)
Best New Performer
Hsiao Ching Teng (The Killer Who Never Kills)
Best Cinematography
Jake Pollock & Lai Yiu Fai (Wu Xia)
Best Film Editing
Yau Chi Wai (Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate)
Best Art Direction
Yee Chung Man & Lau Man Hung (Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate)
Best Costume & Make Up Design
William Chang Suk Ping (Let The Bullets Fly)
Best Action Choreography
Yuen Bun, Lan Hai Han & Sun Jiankui (Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate)
Best Original Film Score
Chan Kwong Wing, Peter Kam Pui Tat & Chatchai Pongprapaphan (Wu Xia)
Best Original Film Song
Hi, Fidelity
Composer: Jun Kung
Lyrics: Calvin Poon Yuen Leung
Sung by: Sandy Lam
Best Sound Design
Kim Suk Won (Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate)
Best Visual Effects
Wook Kim、Josh Cole、Frankie Chung (Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate)
Best New Director
Tsang Tsui Shan (The Big Blue Lake)
Best Film Of Mainland And Taiwan
You Are The Apple Of My Eye
Lifetime Achievement Award
Ni Kuang
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