The Postmodern Life of My Aunt

The Postmodern Life of My Aunt
Traditional 姨媽的後現代生活
Simplified 姨妈的后现代生活
Directed by Ann Hui
Written by Ann Hui
Li Qiang
Yan Yan (novel)
Starring Siqin Gaowa
Chow Yun-fat
Zhao Wei
Lisa Lu
Music by Joe Hisaishi
Cinematography Kwan Pun Leung
Nelson Yu Lik Wai
Edited by Liao Ching-Song
Release dates
  • 8 September 2006 (2006-09-08) (Toronto Film Festival)
  • 2 March 2007 (2007-03-02) (Taiwan)
  • 6 March 2007 (2007-03-06) (China)
  • 8 March 2007 (2007-03-08) (Hong Kong)
Running time
 111 minutes
Country Hong Kong
China
Taiwan
Language Mandarin
Shanghainese

The Postmodern Life of My Aunt (simplified Chinese: 姨妈的后现代生活; traditional Chinese: 姨媽的後現代生活; pinyin: Yimā de hòuxiàndài shēnghúo) is a 2006 Hong Kong serio-comedy film, directed by Ann Hui, starring Siqin Gaowa and Chow Yun-fat. The film also guest-stars Chinese actresses Zhao Wei and Lisa Lu.

Its executive producer was Yuan Mei; another producer was Er Yong. The film was based on a novel of the same title written by Yan Yan (燕燕), while the film's screenplay was by Li Qiang, a Chinese scriptwriter, who had written the script of the 2005 film Peacock, directed by Gu Changwei.

Synopsis

Ye Rutang (Siqin Gaowa), a single-living woman in her late fifties, struggles to maintain a dignified life amid the dangers of Shanghai. Living alone in an apartment, she endures gossipy neighbor Mrs Shui (Lisa Lu) and her pampered cat. She is pragmatic, frugal and self-reliant, but her old-fashionedness and trusting nature make it difficult for her to fit into Shanghai society.

After encountering self-proclaimed aesthete Pan Zhichang (Chow Yun-Fat), she falls for Pan and uses her life savings to invest on cemetery spaces on Pan's suggestion. He turns out to be a fraudster.

After being the victim of several con artists, Ye suffers a bad fall and is hospitalized. She decides to leave Shanghai to live with her working-class husband and cook daughter (Zhao Wei) in Anshan.

Release and Reception

The Postmodern Life of My Aunt premiered at film festivals around the world; it was a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival.[1]

Perry Lam of Muse gave the film a very positive review: "The Postmodern Life of My Aunt is that rare thing in Hong Kong cinema, one that occupies the shadow land between tragedy and comedy. It's hard to categorize My Aunt and assign it to a genre because its characters are so fully formed and three-dimensional."[2]

Cast and roles

Filming locations

The film is set and was filmed in Shanghai and in Anshan, Liaoning, Northeast China (note: Anshan is the birthplace of director Ann Hui). Filming locations in Shanghai include the overpass at Shaanxi and Yan'an roads, and the old houses on Julu Road.[3] Filming in Anshan took place in the first days of 2006.[4] The snow in Anshan was produced artificially.[5]

Awards and nominations

27th Hong Kong Film Awards [6]

43rd Golden Horse Awards[7][8]

12th Golden Bauhinia Awards

14th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Film Description. Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
  2. ↑ Lam, Perry (March 2007). "People we know". Muse Magazine (2): 74.
  3. ↑ chowofhongkong
  4. ↑ "Aunt rushes to Anshan for the New Year"
  5. ↑ chowyunfatfansite
  6. ↑ 27th Hong Kong Film Awards
  7. ↑ loveHKfilm
  8. ↑ english.cri.cn
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Election 2		 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for Best Film
2007 		Succeeded by
The Way We Are
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