July Rhapsody
| July Rhapsody 男人四十 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Ann Hui |
| Written by | Ivy Ho |
| Produced by | Ann Hui, Derek Yee |
| Starring | Jacky Cheung Anita Mui Karena Lam Shaun Tam |
| Cinematography | Kwan Pun-leung Thomas Yeung |
| Edited by | Eric Kwong |
| Music by | Tommy Wai |
Production company | FilmKo Pictures |
| Distributed by | FilmKo Pictures Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK$4,874,951 |
July Rhapsody (Chinese: 男人四十) is a 2002 Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and produced by Ann Hui and Derek Yee. This was Anita Mui's final film appearance before her death from cervical cancer in 2003.
Overview
[edit]The film's Chinese title Chinese: 男人四十 literally translates to Man, 40. Its alternative title is Laam yan sei sap. The film explores midlife crisis, marriage, and teacher-student seduction.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]Lam Yiu-kwok (Jacky Cheung), a Hong Kong secondary school teacher, is facing a midlife crisis, marriage problems, and seduction by a student. He and his wife Man-ching (Anita Mui) are married, living in a modest apartment with their two sons. However, his first son On (Shaun Tam) is not his, but from his wife and Mr. Seng (Tou Chung Hua), their former teacher. When Man-ching was a student, she seduced Mr. Seng, her teacher. As a teacher, Lam Yiu-kwok does not have financial success like his friends, successful businessmen and professionals who flaunt their extravagant lifestyles at reunion dinners. Lam Yiu-kwok's wife's ex-lover Mr. Seng returns to Hong Kong. Mr. Seng is old and dying and she is obliged to spend time with her ex-lover. In school, Lam Yiu-kwok receives flirtatious attention from Choi-lam (Karena Lam), a student from his class who has a crush on him. Lam Yiu-kwok's resistance from his raunchy student begins to weaken.[3][4][5]
Cast
[edit]- Jacky Cheung as Lam Yiu-kwok[3]
- Otto Wu as Young Lam Yiu-kwok
- Anita Mui as Chan Man-ching. [3][5][6]
- Cara Chu as Young Chan Man-ching
- Karena Lam as Woo Choi-lam[3][5]
- Shaun Tam as Lam On-yin
- Ricky Kwok as Infant Lam On-yin
- Eric Kot as Wong Yui[3]
- Tou Chung-hua as Sheng Sai-nin[3]
- Jin Hui as Lam Lui-yin
- Leung Tin as Principal Leung
- Race Wong as Mrs. Mak
- Ku Tin-nung as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- Roddy Wong as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- Jason Yip as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- Simon Li as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- Raymond Yu as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- James Cheng as Yiu-kwok's alumnus
- Yu Sai-tang as Cho
- Alan Wong as Cho's son
- Wong Yuet-ling as Waiter
- Chan Kui-fai as P.E. teacher
- Lee Yiu-tong as Teacher
- Ng Ka-leung as Teacher
- Law Wai-yee as Teacher
- Li Chui-yee as Teacher
- Fok Bo as Teacher
- Tony Lui as Teacher
- Chan Kin-shun as Teacher
- Nakata Yuki as Japanese girl
- Chow Au-ming as Old man
- Lau Miu-ling as Filipino maid
- Lee Tung-yung as Mainland female doctor
- Cheung Lai-kwan as Tramp in tunnel
- Jonathan Lam
- Ho Tsz-kit
- Carson Fan
- William Ho
- Roy Lau
- Jason Lee
- Levan Mak
- Courtney Wu as Father
- Ko Tin Lung
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
| 21st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | July Rhapsody | Nominated |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Jacky Cheung | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Anita Mui | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Karena Lam[5] | Won | |
| Best New Performer | Karena Lam[5] | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Ivy Ho[5] | Won | |
| Best Art Direction | Man Nim-chung | Nominated | |
| 39th Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | July Rhapsody | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Anita Mui | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Karena Lam | Won | |
| Best New Performer | Karena Lam | Won | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Ivy Ho | Won | |
| Best Art Direction | Man Nim-chung | Nominated | |
| Best Costume & Make-up Design | Man Nim-chung | Nominated | |
| 8th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Film of Merit | July Rhapsody | Won |
| 6th Golden Bauhinia Awards | Best Director | Ann Hui | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Jacky Cheung | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Anita Mui | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Karena Lam | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Ivy Ho | Nominated | |
| Top Ten Chinese-language films | July Rhapsody | Won | |
| 50th International Film Festival of India | Best Actor | Jacky Cheung | Won |
| 6th Changchun Film Festival | Best Actress | Anita Mui | Won |
| 7th Verona Love Screens Film Festival | Best Film | July Rhapsody | Nominated |
| 2nd Chinese Film Media Awards (Hong Kong and Taiwan) |
Best Film | July Rhapsody | Nominated |
| Best Director | Ann Hui | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Jacky Cheung | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Anita Mui | Won | |
| HKSAR 10th Anniversary Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Ivy Ho | Nominated |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Freiberg, Freda (October 2002). "Border Crossings: Ann Hui's cinema". sensesofcinema.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "July Rhapsody (AKA Man of 40) (Laam yan sei sap)". harvardfilmarchive.org. March 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Stratton, David (12 February 2002). "July Rhapsody". variety.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ Trybalska, Gabriella (21 August 2002). "July Rhapsody". eyeforfilm.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "July Rhapsody". homemcr.org. October 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Retrospective on Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui's classic works". info.gov.hk. 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2020.