9. Hong Kong Family; movie review

 

HONG KONG FAMILY

Cert 12A

113 mins

BBFC advice: Contains domestic abuse

Gosh, I really hope most families in Hong Kong are happier and more stable than this one.

The foundations of the unit in Eric Tsang's movie crumble over the annual winter solstice meal and get-together.

Tensions are already running high when the exasperated patriarch pulls out a kitchen knife and waves it towards his wife.

Shouting and screaming ensue.

Hong Kong Family then moves on eight years when the reverberations of that incident are still being felt.

Teresa Mo is the picture's central character - a domineering wife who has deep regrets over her arranged marriage.

Tse Kwan-Ho is her morose and lifeless husband who is quietly working out how to provide an antidote to the poison between them.

The woes at home have had dramatic fall-outs on their tempestuous son (Edan Lui) and insecure daughter (Hedwig Tam).

Angela Yuen plays a niece who arrives from America to see her grandmother (Fung So-Bo) and provides the catalyst for the way forward for the dysfunctional group.

Let's be clear, Hong Kong Family is a one-paced drama - nevertheless, it tugs at emotion because, even if not all the scenes resonate with its audience, some certainly will.

I felt sadness for the characters because they are not bad people and yet the adults felt that their lives had been wasted and the younger ones were desperately seeking direction.

Thus, sends out a clear message to grab life when you can.

Meanwhile, it allows those who watch it the chance to immerse themselves in Hong Kong culture.

Reasons to watch: A rare immersion into Hong Kong culture

Reasons to avoid: A slow burn

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? In 2021, around 16,700 couples were divorced in Hong Kong, a significant decrease from more than 21,000 in 2019.

The final word. Eric Tsang: "Whether or not you come from a happy family, I am sure you will see part of your upbringing being revived on screen. It is more than a story – it is a collective recollection of all Hong Kong families." CUHK in focus

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