A Simple Life

2011
A Simple Life
7.5| 1h58m| en| More Info
Released: 13 April 2012 Released
Producted By: Sil-Metropole Organisation
Country: Hong Kong
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

The relationship between a middle-aged man and the elderly woman, who has been the family's helper for sixty years.

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b-64373 A simple life tells us a story of a housemaid' last year of her life. The heroine of the film, named Tao, had been a housemaid in Andy' family for the last 60 years. She came to Andy's house when she was 16 years old , she grew up with Andy's mother and the growing up of Andy was before her very eyes. She served Andy with great care including cooking dinner, washing clothes, cleaning the room as well as feeding a cat. At the first shot of the movie, Tao was going across a crowed and noisy outdoor market to buy fishes for dinner, she picked up the goods so carefully that the shopkeeper seemed impatient. When she came home, she prepared a big meal for Andy. Ai night, Tao was always standing in the balcony waiting for Andy, therefore every time Andy came home, she would see the warm yellow light on the second floor, then Tao would serve the food for Andy .That is almost everything Tao will do in her daily life. However, one time Andy saw the yellow light when he came back but he could not open the door. He yelled loudly, hoping Tao would hear him, but finally he realized something was wrong with Tao. Tao suffered a stroke and could hardly walk without the walking stick. Andy was wondering to find a new housemaid to take care of her while Tao insisted to live in the nursery using her own money. Tao came into the nursery, and Andy couldn't get used to the life without Tao, he realized how important Tao was. Tao was already the number of his family from the bottom of her heart, Tao was even more intimate than his mother. He began to company Tao with unprecedented love and patient until her death. The whole story is really flat and slow, you can hardly find any ups and downs. Even when it comes the death, it seems so natural. But it still has a big power to move audiences, because so many little details in the film are likely happening in everyone's daily life. At the end, we all have to face the fear of death ,and at that time, all we need is love and company. In this film, wo can see so clearly the grand love in small person, it's pure and selfless.
zanmorrow This is a lovely film, made in Hong Kong, about a woman who had been a maid in a family for 60 years, her family had traditionally worked for this family. At the point of the film, there is just the made Ah Tao and her 'master' Roger left - the rest of the family have died or moved away. When Ah Tao has a stroke, the tells Roger (a film director) that she wants to move to an old age home. It seems that after decades of looking after people, she wants to be looked after. Roger takes great concern over her, visiting her in hospital, looking for the best home for her and paying for it. To western eyes the home looks pretty basic but Ah Tao is happy there and Roger visits her regularly. It is a pleasure to see the joy they take in each other company. The film is careful to show that Roger has many friends, and a good relationship with his family, so his relationship with Ah Tao is not needy, simply a lovely friendship. Nothing much happens in the film, there is some interesting discussions about food, where to buy it and how to cook it but it is mainly a look at life in Hong Kong and a depiction of a close relationship that goes beyond master/servant, young/old, male/female. Worth watching.
Vihren Mitev How to write about simple movie? And how tell about simple life? How to live such life? Perhaps the answer to these questions lie exactly here. But first, it takes strength and courage to overcome yourself, your self-esteem, dreams and ambitions. It takes curiosity and thirst for life.The film comes into our minds easily and quickly shows us the power of being, of being born with the fate of being a human being in its overall appearance. Shows how quickly are changing the roles of young and old, it shows what should be the relationship between people, always. It shows where is the spring of goodness and that it is there because "You have to be at rest first with yourself before helping others"... with unabated good that enjoys anyone to whom it touches. That everyone accepts as a given, but feels the pain of its loss.How nice it is when our deepest desires are so simple. When we are truly, picky, but because we are looking for soul mates. How nice it is to experience the happiness of loving relatives, to know your place and perhaps, most importantly, not cheating in first place - not cheating yourself.http://vihrenmitevmovies.blogspot.com/
aldri-feb Ah Tao, an old maid in Hong Kong who have served Roger's family for four generations suffering stroke that make her deciding to retire and move into old people's place. She recover her stroke there, learns many thing and also is treated well. Every once a week, her master Roger visits her and accompanies her to take a walk. Sometimes, Roger's mom also comes to visit Ah Tao and bring her many useful things. Roger's family really love Ah Tao and feel thankful after what she has done for them about 60 years long by taking care of their family. 'A Simple Life' have shown that a simple story could give good impression and enjoyable to watch. The storyline is not complicated at all, the movie goes on slowly and very detail. Ann Hui as a director tries to make it safe and straight without any meaningful conflicts which sometimes could make audience feels bored watching it. The relationship between Roger and Ah Tao built really well, it shows how they support and take care one another even sometimes telling jokes. Credits should be given to Andy Lau and Deannie Yip, their acting is so natural as two characters who has known each other for a long time. Overall, 'A Simple Life' is a memorable Chinese movie I've seen recently. Actually I felt exhausted during watching 'A Simple Life' because of it's slow plot but when I rewind what I just saw, the movie isn't bad at all and has so much lesson to be learned from it. It teaches audience to respect and appreciate people who has done good things in lives and not forgetting their merit.