Echoes of the Rainbow (2010)
"Sui yuet san tau" (original title)

Director:

Alex Law

Writer:

Alex Law

Stars:

Simon Yam, Sandra Ng Kwan Yue, Aarif Rahman

7 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Yam	...	Mr. Law
Sandra Ng Kwan Yue	...	Mrs. Law
Aarif Rahman	...	Desmond Law / Big Ears (as a teenager) (as Aarif)
Buzz Chung	...	Big Ears
Paul Chun	...	Big Uncle - barber (as Paul Chiang)
Evelyn Choi	...	Flora Liu
Ping Ha	...	Grandma (as Teresa Loo)
Vincent Kok	...	Mr. Ho, the tailor (Guest star)
Ann Hui	...	Miss Chan - Big Ears' teacher (guest star)
Lawrence Ah Mon	...	Goldfish Seller (as Lawrence Lau)
Tung Cho 'Joe' Cheung	...	Doctor (guest star)
Clifton Ko	...	Customer with three kids (guest star)
Chun-Sau Ha	...	Mrs. Law's Father (Guest star) (as Ng Kam Chuen)
King-Cheong Lung	...	(Guest star)
Tina Lau	...	Flora's mom (Guest star) (as Tina Liu)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

brother brother relationship | 1960s | childhood | school

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese Mandarin English Shanghainese French

Release Date:

11 March 2010 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Echoes of the Rainbow

Filming Locations:

Diocesan Boys' School, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

BIG Pictures, Beijing Dadi Century Limited, Dadi Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

A Rare Family Treat

MOVIES often transport us to worlds of fantasy and hype. This one, however, strives for nostalgic realism, tempering yesteryear charm and familial bond with a touch of tragedy. It is not a movie for the masses but "Echoes Of The Rainbow" is a rare gem for film buffs who look for something different from the familiar fare.

It will take you back to the Sixties, at the time when Neil Armstrong walked the moon, and maybe wring a tear or two out of you...

The film is about eight-year-old Big Ears (Buzz Chung Siu To, who narrates), growing up on Wing Lee Street in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan district, where his father (Simon Yam) runs a shoe shop on one end while his uncle owns a hair salon at the opposite end. Together, they take care of their customers' top and bottom, or so they boast.

Big Ears is a spoilt brat who makes a hobby of pinching stuff, quite unlike his elder brother Desmond (singer Aarif Lee) who is both a model student and a top athlete in school. The narrative follows the adventures of the two brothers, with Desmond courting the demure Flora (Evelyn Choi) - and Big Ears wearing a fish bowl on his head, dreaming of becoming Hong Kong's first astronaut.

The first thing that grabs us is the movie's attention to detail, recreating a part of Hong Kong that vibrates with local street life and small-time enterprise. The mood of nostalgia is further enhanced by director Law Kai Yu's inclusion of catchy Sixties songs, especially those of the Monkees, that Desmond loves to listen on the transistor radio. In this world, poverty may be romanticised with the neighbourhood community gathering together for dinner but the dark side, of widespread bribe-taking and corrupt cops and nurses, is also explored.

The cast is exemplary too, with young Buzz Chung effortlessly stealing the show from Aarif Lee and even veteran Yam. Chung helps to give the film a touch of playfulness and naivete, showing us Big Ear's kiddie point of view. Lee is rather bland in his role as the 'model son' and student but Sandra Ng is in her element as the resourceful and sweet-tongued mother. I find the ending rather melodramatic and predictable. Still, it seems the only way to close the story.

This movie won the Crystal Bear Award at the 60th Berlin Film Festival for Best New Generation Film and has been nominated for six prizes at the Hong Komng Film Awards. A rare and refreshing family movie. - By LIM CHANG MOH (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)