A new film by Macao filmmaker Wong Teng Teng, which explores a heartwarming story about a grandma and granddaughter, will be released on Thursday, ahead of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland on Dec. 20.

(From left to right) Director Wong Teng Teng, actors Cheung Wai Hing, Cherry Ngan and Eric Hsiao pose for a photo at the premiere of "Revisit" in Beijing, Dec. 16, 2024. [Photo courtesy of China Film Group]

"Revisit," starring Cherry Ngan and Cheung Wai Hing, tells the story of a young woman who is chasing her dream in Beijing having to rush back to Macao to care for her grandmother after learning her grandmother had a stroke. Despite constant friction during their time together, the two gradually rediscover the beauty of their past, reconnecting with their hometown of Macao and its history.

The story was inspired by Wong's memories of her own paternal grandmother , and though it is a story about family, she hopes to reflect the changes in Macao that have happened over time — creating a dialogue between generations.

China Film Group, the enterprise behind the film's release, expressed similar sentiments in a press release, stating that this deeply humanistic story reflects the inseparable familial bond between the Chinese mainland and Macao, highlighting their shared blood ties and unwavering connection. 

The film is one of several Macao-themed productions by China Film Group to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. It also serves as a significant example of the company's efforts to support young Macao filmmakers and promote greater integration between the mainland and Macao cinema.

"Revisit" took more than 10 years for Wong to complete after becoming the first Macao resident to earn a master's degree in filmmaking from the Beijing Film Academy. As the first Macao student accepted to the academy's Directing Department, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2005 and later earned a master's degree, studying under renowned directors Xie Fei and Tian Zhuangzhuang, as well as renowned editor Zhou Xinxia.

Wong referred to Beijing as the place where her filmmaking dream began, adding: "Though I haven't seen many of my classmates in over a decade, seeing them again at the premiere feels so warm and moving."

As her directorial debut, "Revisit" won a Work-In-Progress award at the Asia-Europe Festival of Young Cinema, which was held in Macao at the beginning of this year. 

At the Beijing premiere, the director expressed her hope that this warm and simple story would allow audiences to truly feel the passage of time, the daily life and the human warmth of Macao. "I also believe that the grandparent-grandchild bond depicted in the story is something every Chinese person can relate to — it represents the unique familial warmth that belongs to us," she said.

Cheung Wai Hing, 83, who played the grandmother in the film, shared at the premiere that "life needs passion." An anesthesiologist in real life, this touching movie saw her take on her first leading role, delivering a touching performance that reminded many in attendance of their own grandmothers, moving them to tears.

A poster for "Revisit." [Image courtesy of China Film Group]

The Chinese title of the film, "The Fortune Tower," is inspired by a real landmark in Macao. "If you tell a taxi driver in Macao to go to the Fortune Tower, almost every driver will know where to take you," Wong Teng Teng said. In the 1980s, the tower was surrounded by garment factories and symbolized residents' aspirations for a better life. To Wong, it reflects the older generation's pursuit of happiness and Macao's historical and cultural changes.

Wong Teng Teng made integration a core theme of her film, as actors and teams from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Beijing were all involved, calling it "truly a work of four regions." She also noted that her family now "embraces the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," with her husband working in Shenzhen and their home in Hengqin, Guangdong province. She added that they find it convenient to travel between Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland, enjoying the ride along the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the world's longest bridge-cum-tunnel sea crossing.

"This film wasn't easy to complete. As a young director, I am truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with outstanding directors and actors from the mainland," Wong said, going on to express her hopes to use Beijing — the starting point of her filmmaking journey — as a launchpad to share more of her works with a wider audience.

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