Clara Law has given her strong family drama a good sense of humour (mostly in the first stanza) and a strong central theme. The search for a spiritual home - an area Law covered with less success in her "Temptation of a Monk" - is the focus of this soul-searching, poignant film about a migrant Chinese family trying to adjust to life in Australia.
The backbone of the film is the strong cast, led by the two elder and very different sisters, Yen (Annette Shun Wah) and Bing (Annie Yip). The two give performances that are poles apart, yet both equally worthy of praise. Lending support is Anthony Wong as brother Kar Ming, impressive as the man who is totally lost even though he lives the fast life in Hong Kong. Cecilia Fong Sing Lee and Edwin Pang also give rewarding turns as the long suffering parents who yearn for peace in Australia and an end to their trials.
The screenplay from Law and Eddie L. C. Fong is occasional, delivering some knockout scenes - including one powerful anti-abortion message that is not for the liberals - along with some less than impactful ones. Not to criticise though, for their writing sures up what is a fine film. Great cinematography is from Dion Beebe and the editor is Suresh Ayyar.
Monday, September 15, 1997 - Hoyts Croydon
The backbone of the film is the strong cast, led by the two elder and very different sisters, Yen (Annette Shun Wah) and Bing (Annie Yip). The two give performances that are poles apart, yet both equally worthy of praise. Lending support is Anthony Wong as brother Kar Ming, impressive as the man who is totally lost even though he lives the fast life in Hong Kong. Cecilia Fong Sing Lee and Edwin Pang also give rewarding turns as the long suffering parents who yearn for peace in Australia and an end to their trials.
The screenplay from Law and Eddie L. C. Fong is occasional, delivering some knockout scenes - including one powerful anti-abortion message that is not for the liberals - along with some less than impactful ones. Not to criticise though, for their writing sures up what is a fine film. Great cinematography is from Dion Beebe and the editor is Suresh Ayyar.
Monday, September 15, 1997 - Hoyts Croydon