Hoh bit yau ngoh (1985)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Kent Cheng

Writers:

Kent Cheng (writer)
Che Cheung Tai (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The tragic story of Fat Cat, a mentally retarded man who endures the mistreatment of the local villagers...

Plot Keywords:

Tragedy

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Ga Yee Chan
Kent Cheng	...	Fat Cat
Olivia Cheng	...	Koko
Chiao Chiao
Yun-Fat Chow	...	Mr. Chow (as Chow Yun Fat)
Kong Chu	...	Kong
Kara Hui	...	Woman Whose Husband Gambles
Peter Lai
Chia Yung Liu	...	Man Doing Lion Dance
Jamie Luk	...	Thug
Fofo Ma Seung Ngok
Siu Gong Ng
Sha-fei Ouyang
Yueming Shen		(as Yuet Ming Sam)
Fui-On Shing	...	Ken
Ni Tien
Eric Tsang	...	Eric
Yue Wong
Choi Bo Yam

Also Known As:

He bi you wo (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
Why Me? (Hong Kong: English title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Hong Kong:I

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Movie Connections:

Followed by Fei mao liu lang ji (1988)

Heartbreaking story of a mentally retarded man.

This is not a film to cheer you up. Erik Cheng won a Hong Kong Film Award as Best Actor for his performance as Fat Cat, a mentally retarded man living in poverty with his widowed mother. Olivia Cheng portrays the social worker on her first case who is put through the wringer trying to believe in a system which is failing all around her. While she has the best of intentions, her efforts seem doomed to fail, as she has to fight both the staggering caseload of the system, the ignorance of the villagers who both fear and torment Fat Cat, and the apathy of her boss/boyfriend (a small role played by Chow Yun-Fat).

Even though there are comedic touches, the dual storylines of the genial retarded man suffering at the hands of the government and local punks coupled with the social worker's irresponsible bum of a father (played briefly but poignantly by Paul Chu Kong) being a burden to everyone around him is almost unbearable. Watching this film is almost a struggle, as it brings home all too clearly the misfortunes of the characters and their pain. Having said that, to see Kent Cheng act in this film, no matter how depressing, is a wonder. The mother's deathbed scene is an exquisite portrayal that can't be obscured by tears.

Those who are only looking to see Chow Yun-Fat may want to give this one a miss, but if you have the heart, watch it for Kent Cheng's incredible talents.