Song of the Exile

Play trailer

Song of the Exile

1990

1h 38m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

3 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

After going to school in London, Cheung Hueyin (Maggie Cheung) returns to Hong Kong for the wedding of her younger sister. It doesn't take long for the young woman to discover the vast gulf now separating her from her mother, Aiko (Lu Shao-fen). As Cheung prepares for the wedding, she contends with her mother's animosity for the Western customs she's picked up. In search of answers, Cheung dredges up painful memories of the past that shed light on her mother's resentful behavior.

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Song of the Exile is one of Ann Hui’s finest films.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2024

Full Review

Andrew Heskins

easternKicks.com

Ann Hui's semi-autobiographical work starring Maggie Cheung makes for one of her most endearing and touching films...

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 11, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

It's a fantastic portrayal of how dysfunctional family dynamics can be born from fear of rejection rather than hatred and anger, especially in this mother-daughter relationship. You can tell that the director knows what she is doing. Excellent film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

LIGHT BUT DEEP SADNESS

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favourite movie dealing with the mother-daughter relationship and the question of exile including issues between Chinese and Japanese. Maggie Cheung was wonderful in this movie definitely recomended. The best Ann Hui work. A masterpiece. No Cantonese audio DVD and I can't find the VCD which is not sold anymore :(

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very personal film from Ann Hui, blending recollections of her own youth and family history with the development of modern China and the still infectious Sino-Japanese relations. A beautifully conceived, sad and hope-inspiring work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best mother-daughter flicks I've ever seen. Much more subtle than Terms of Endearment. Also one of the best works by both the director Ann Hui and the screenwriter Wu Nian Jen. Lu Xiao Fen and Maggie Cheung gave powerful performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Taking the mother/daughter dynamics of the melodrama as a model, the film explores the links between cultural fallout, nationhood and family ties. Feminist in tone and spirit without beating the dead horse of men=evil. It's a pity the script is fashioned more for metaphors and exploration than believability and excitement, but then you could do a lot worse than Maggie Cheung for a vicarious observor.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ann Hui

Director

Lu Shao-fen

Actor

Maggie Cheung

Cheung Hueyin

Waise Lee

Mr. Cheung

Nien-Jen Wu

Writer

Nai Chung Chou

Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

After going to school in London, Cheung Hueyin (Maggie Cheung) returns to Hong Kong for the wedding of her younger sister. It doesn't take long for the young woman to discover the vast gulf now separating her from her mother, Aiko (Lu Shao-fen). As Cheung prepares for the wedding, she contends with her mother's animosity for the Western customs she's picked up. In search of answers, Cheung dredges up painful memories of the past that shed light on her mother's resentful behavior.

Director: Ann Hui
Producer: Nai Chung Chou, Deng Fei Lin
Screenwriter: Nien-Jen Wu
Production Co: Cos Group
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Runtime: 1h 38m