‘Simple Life’ sweeps awards in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Agence France-Presse

Hong Kong actor Andy Lau (L) and actress Deanie Ip celebrate winning the Best Actor and Best Actress awards for ‘A Simple Life’ at the Hong Kong Film Awards. REUTERS photo

A heart-warming drama film depicting the relationship between an elderly loyal servant and her young master swept all the major categories of the Hong Kong Film Awards on April 15.

“A Simple Life,” which is based on a true story, scooped five gongs for best film, director, screenplay, actor and actress at the star-studded event considered Hong Kong’s equivalent of the Oscars.

“I would like to thank Hong Kong,” Ann Hui said after grabbing the best director award. “This city has given me a lot of inspirations,” she said during the glittering ceremony.

The best actor and best actress honor went to the film’s lead characters played by Andy Lau and Deanie Ip. Ip, 64, played a servant who wants to move into a nursing home after suffering a stroke in “A Simple Life,” a role that also won her the best actress award at the Venice film festival and Asian Film Awards.

Lau, one of Asia’s most successful stars who is branded by the media as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop, was crowned best actor for the third time.

The annual Hong Kong Film Awards, celebrating its 31st edition this year, is one of the two Chinese film’s industry most prestigious events, alongside Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards.

The southern Chinese city which became an international movie powerhouse in the 1970s remains a rich source of film talent, with its stars enjoying huge popularity across Asia. There have been increasing collaborations between Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland filmmakers in recent years to tap the lucrative market of movie-goers in China.

In recognition of the regional film industry, the award this year added the new “Best Film of Mainland and Taiwan” category, won by the hit Taiwanese teen romance “You are the Apple of My Eye.”