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      A Simple Life

      2011 1h 57m Drama List
      94% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 86% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less

      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 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 Antonio Sison National Catholic Reporter The understated sentiment is made more eloquent by the calibrated performances of the actors, most especially Deanie Ip, who so thoroughly disappears into the role of Ah Tao that her moments infuse the film with a documentary feel. Apr 30, 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 david l A Simple Life is a refreshingly subtle and far from emotionally manipulative Hong Kong drama that is particularly worth seeing for two phenomenal turns from Andy Lay and Deanie Ip in the main roles. The film's grounded approach is commendable, but the excessive length was unnecessary for such a simple story at its core. That choice hurt what otherwise would have been an incredible film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 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 Read all reviews Post a rating

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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
      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