Reviews & Ratings for
Little Cheung More at IMDbPro »Xilu xiang (original title)

6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
A rare treat of realism from Hong Kong's most celebrated independent film director, 13 May 2001
Author: seanmok (seanmok@yahoo.com) from Hong Kong

Fruit Chan, the director of this second film of a triology about Hong Kong before and after the "handover" (at 1997, when Hong Kong was switched from a British colony to a special administrative region of China), is a rare and truly wonderful treat. The story is about the coming-of-age of a pre-teen boy "Little Cheung", the son of a street-wise owner of a restaurant in the Mongkok area (think Queens in NYC or Mission in San Francisco) and shares the name of a famous Cantonese opera singer. He meets all sorts of characters through helping his father delivering foods to regular customers - a pathetic gang leader, prostitutes, aging owners of funeral homes - and a girl who recently came from China illegally. While not able to study because of her illegal status, the girl "Ah Fan" ends up forming a "partnership" with Little Cheung to deliver foods (and share the tips) which develops into a memorable friendhship for both.

Chan's style is bare and touching, and has a tone that is neither moralistic or judging - no small achievement for a movie that aims to be a social commentary. It simply protriats the tough reality of life through the eyes of a young boy whose goal in life, like most Hong Kong people, is to make more money and satisfy their materialistic needs. Everything else that may touch one's own deeper inner feelings is underplayed or simply hidden.

Although none of the actors in the film is professional, the acting, especially the boy who played "Little Cheung", is superb. There are many references to local culture that may be difficult for non-native audiences, and there are also hints of storylines that come from the two other films ("The longest summer" and "Durian Durian"). But for anyone who wishes to go behind the Hong Kong "genre" and get a real sense of how Hong Kong people live, Fruit Chan's films are excellent starting points.

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Very interesting film...the best out of the "handover trilogy"!!!, 28 April 2005

Author: Bobby Bob from Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Most people say "Xilu xiang" portrayed the hardness of life of people living in the slums of Hong Kong. Though true, this film ran much deeper than that. "Xilu xiang", like "Made in Hong Kong" and "The Longest Summer" (which along with this film are commonly referred to as the "Hong Kong Handover Trilogy"), was more of a reflection of the people's attitude towards the Hong Kong "handover" (where Hong Kong was returned to mainland China on July 1st).

While "Made in Hong Kong" was about the youth of Hong Kong's doomed attitude towards the "handover" and "The Longest Summer" was about how Hong Kong citizens who worked for the British and were more British by heart had to deal with the sudden change in both the social and political spectrum, "Xilu xiang" is taken from a child's point of view and how the child views the "handover". What was more interesting and different about "Xilu xiang" than the other two films in the trilogy was that this film not only incorporated the Hong Kong citizen's point of view towards the "handover", it also looked at the point of view from the Chinese mainlander, as the first half was narrated by Xilu Xiang while the second half was narrated by A Fen. One could easily spot the change in the attitude of the people between the two plots.

This film focused on the interaction between Hong Kong citizens and the Chinese mainlanders, two people, though close geographically, but in fact were very different culturally and ideologically. The mainlanders feared being found out as illegal immigrants, while the Hong Kong citizens held a distrust towards the mainlanders. The children, on the other hand, did not see any differences between themselves and they were able to become close friends. However, the events and people around them forced them to end their friendship and to be apart. Thus, no matter how hard the people try, they could not get along.

The beauty of the film is that the two children, Xilu Xiang and A Fen, saw all the changes in Hong Kong before the "handover" as it affects even their everyday life. Yet, because of their youth and innocence, they did not completely understand them and the significance of the events as they unfolded. They had their own commentary, but they were only able to take note of the mundane and interesting details. However, the audiences, on the other hand, were more affected and touched more emotionally that these children seeing the same images that these children see. The audiences were treated to a very different cinematic experience, as not only were they able to see how the children view the "handover" and treasure and smile at their innocence, they were also able to exert their own view at the same time. Two very different views forming at the same time, simultaneously but yet not overpowering one another. Only one word to describe it: amazing.

There were no main stream Hong Kong actors in this film, though the child who portrayed the title character won the Taiwan Golden Horse award, the Asian equivalent to the Oscars, for best new comer for this role. Thus, the director and the screenwriter, Friut Chan, might be the biggest draw. If you are not a big film bluff and not in touch with the "handover", this film might be hard to understand because it tends to be confusing with images and events flying at you from all directions and there were many hidden meanings. I had to change this review couple of times because I remembered things as I was writing. Otherwise, this film is a must see. Gives you a different and new cinematic experience.

0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Great Film, 2 December 2003
Author: KATE from Toronto Canada

The first time I saw this movie I was channel surfing at night in my hotel room in Guangzhou China. It is an amazingly emotional and beautiful film that gives an authentic insight into the complexities of everyday life in Hong Kong. If you are a fan of Hong Kong cinema do yourself a favor and watch this or any other film by director Fruit Chan. It may not be what you would typically expect from Hong Kong cinema but but its totally worth the risk!!!

2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Fruit Chan is the best Hong Kong film director, 3 January 2002

Author: jowang

Fruit Chan is undoubtedly the best Hong Kong film director of noir.

Started with 'Made in Hong Kong'(1997), Chan's small budgeted Hong Kong trilogy series have been the most heart-touching movies. In Chan's movie, you're confronted with hard-working, low-earning people live behind the sky high buildings in this capitalistic island of Oriental Pearl. Most dream dies as the day goes by.

'Durian,Durian' is also a must see.

2 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Great movie, 31 August 2000

Author: ben maddux (benmaddux@hotbot.com) from Montreal, Canada

A brilliant portrayal of a family living in Honk Kong slums. Evolving around the central character of a nine-year-old boy, the director shamelessly displays the hardships of these real people. Their values, their dreams.

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