Dec
13
2008
The Way We Are
Posted by luna6 1 Comment
Movie: The Way We Are (Tin shui wai dik yat yu ye)
Release Date: July 17, 2008
Country: Hong Kong
Director: Ann Hui
Starring: Hee Ching Paw, Chun-lung Leung, Lai-wun Chan
Runtime: 90 min.
Editor Rating: 7.5
Users Rating: 8.14 
(7 votes)
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“The Way We Are” is an understated film that brings to light the lives of regular folks and the trials and tribulations they go through. The film is set in Hong Kong’s “Tin Shui Wai” area – an area sometimes called “city of sadness” – but the film never mentions the area by name, rather just places the neighborhood prominently as its backdrop.
“The Way We Are” centers around single mother Kwan, her teenage son Ka On Cheung, and their elderly neighbor Granny. Kwan works at the local grocery store, usually bagging Durian fruits. After the death of her husband she has raised her teenage son Ka On Cheung single handedly. When we are first introduced to Ka-On he appears to be a disenchanted youth on the verge of being labeled a “delinquent,” but as time pases we realize he’s one of the more well mannered kids you’ll ever find on film. Meanwhile, their elderly neighbor “Granny” lives in her own solitary existence. Through the kindness of Kwan, and the Confucian respect she shows to her, Granny’s life takes on a brighter existence.
The problems that these characters face are the typical dilemmas found in everyday life; from the mundane (what they will eat for lunch) to heavier subjects (death & estrangement in the family). While this might initially seem more suited for a documentary, the power of these vignettes comes not just from the story itself, but its setting. Kwan and Granny both live on meager means and have apartments some would liken to closets. Their lives are far from a fairy tale like setting, but they nevertheless find contentment in their lives – often times from helping others. While we would most associate a poor neighboorhood with crime & misery, “The Way We Are” shows none of that. As someone said long before me, “the power of what isn’t said is just as important as what is said.”
Surprisingly, “The Way We Are” keeps an upbeat feel for most of its runtime and never veers into heavy melodrama territory. When we are first introduced to the characters and their settings, we automatically assume their lives are filled with sadness and the likelihood of tragedy striking isn’t a question of if, but when. Yet, director Ann Hui opts for none of that. Instead, she creates a quietly moving arthouse film, with none of the pretentiousness commonly found in that genre, to show life as it is for at least some of the Hong Kong regular folks. To better understand the power of “The Way We Are,” make a mental note of your impressions of the opening sequence, then after you’ve finished the movie, go back and re-watch that opening sequence. Amazing how your impressions of that opening sequence has changed!
Buy “The Way We Are” from Yesasia
Cast:
Hee Ching Paw – Mrs. Cheung
Chun-lung Leung – Cheung Ka-on
Lai-wun Chan – Granny
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2008 Movie Reviews, Chinese Movies, Movie Reviews, Movies |
Comments
1 Comment so far
Well that looks like my kind of movie. I am definitely interested in this one.
And it’s been a long time since I watched something from hongkong. Everything seems to come from Korea these days… :)