A Simple Life (PG)
Starring: Andy Lau, Deannie Yip
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Contained within Ann Hui's gentle drama of role-reversal is a reminder of generational duty. Deanie Ip plays Ah Toa, a maid who's been in service 40 years to a Hong Kong family, now mostly disappeared to the US.
Only youngest son Roger (Andy Lau), a film producer, remains in the apartment. When Ah Toa suffers a disabling stroke and goes into a care home, the tables are turned, and Roger slowly realises his debt of responsibility to the old lady. The growing closeness between them is touchingly portrayed (Ip is real-life godmother to Lau) though its drifting final half-hour could have been usefully cut. Once the alternative to a lonesome old age has been established, the film hasn't anywhere left to go but "the only end of age".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments