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A Simple Life

Play trailer Poster for A Simple Life 2011 1h 57m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A film producer (Andy Lau) helps care for his family's lifelong servant (Deanie Ip) after she suffers a stroke and must move into a nursing home.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Clarke Sight & Sound There's none of the flashy food porn you'd get in an Ang Lee film such as Eat Drink Man Woman, but as a quiet examination of the central role of food in domestic Cantonese culture, this is about as good as it gets. Jul 12, 2018 Full Review Ben Sachs Chicago Reader [T]he sort of film in which every detail feels unforced but essential. Aug 9, 2012 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Here is a film with the clarity of fresh stream water, flowing without turmoil to shared destiny. No plot gimmicks. No twists and turns. Just a simple life. Rated: 4/4 Aug 9, 2012 Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film This film...ends on a bitter note, but it is still, first and foremost, a touching message of the importance of goodwill and remembrance. Rated: 4/5 Aug 4, 2024 Full Review Ard Vijn ScreenAnarchy I am not a human interest junkie and often these films are not my cup of tea, but you must be pretty much made of stone for this film to leave you untouched. Jan 14, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row A lovely and tender film, and while its premise is rife with potential for sentimentality it remains remarkably restrained, as unassuming as Ah Tao, avoiding maudlin cliche with a wise and even hand. Rated: 3/4 Aug 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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DanTheMan 2 A Simple Life is simply divine. Expressing hope in human nature which befits the challenges of taking care of our sick and elderly, while its premise is rife with potential for sentimentality it remains remarkably restrained. It's a subject matter that Director Ann Hui handles with tender care and attention that's complimented by a plangent piano soundtrack to tug at the heartstrings tempered with a downbeat reality and tear-jerking performances from both Andy Lau and Deanie Ip that are just the icing on the cake. While these sorts of films aren't normally my cup of tea, you must have a heart of stone if this doesn't leave you unaffected by the sheer wholesomeness of its depressing reality. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/27/23 Full Review nefasto r A gentle film that teaches us friendship and the importance of taking care of the people we love. Most importantly "A Simple Life" is a tribute to good people, and if you think about, there are not a lot of films talking about them. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Script and acting are very stodgy... Whilst the theme is clichéd and the direction is unoriginal... give this a miss. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Ann Hui's compassionate tale of a warm relationship between the titular character and her younger employer pays homage to the labour and plight of Hong Kong's silver generation. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Film ini memberikan sebuah pesan kuat bahwa perhatian dan kasih sayang merupakan obat yang paling manjur dibanding uang ataupun harta bagi para orang tua yang berada di penghujung hidup mereka. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Touching, well-paced, and free from sub-plots. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Simple Life

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Cast & Crew

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Ann Hui

Director

Andy Lau

Roger

Deannie Yip

Ah Tao

Qin Hailu

Ms. Choi

Fuli Wang

Roger's mother

Paul Chun

Uncle Kin

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Movie Info

Synopsis A film producer (Andy Lau) helps care for his family's lifelong servant (Deanie Ip) after she suffers a stroke and must move into a nursing home.
Director
Ann Hui
Producer
Roger Lee, Chan Pui-wah
Screenwriter
Susan Chan, Roger Lee
Production Co
Bona International Film Group, Sil-Metropole Organisation, Focus Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 57m