Sui yuet san tau

I hadn't seen the 2010 Hong Kong movie "Echoes of the Rainbow" (aka "Sui yuet san tau") before now in 2020. I was given the opportunity to sit down and watch the movie, so of course I did so, given my admiration of the Asian cinema.

The storyline told in the movie was rather good and had a good progress and pacing to it. Writer and director Alex Law managed to put together a wholesome and entertaining movie that actually had a good punchline to it and proved to be more than just a run-of-the-mill movie.

"Echoes of the Rainbow" has a rather good ensemble of actors and actresses on the cast list, which includes the likes of Simon Yam, Sandra Kwan Yue Ng and Paul Chun - all three are some you should be familiar with if you have an interest in the Hong Kong cinema.

I enjoyed watching this movie, and was genuinely entertained. I am rating "Echoes of the Rainbow" a six out of ten stars.

In Chinese word "Shoes are half hard, and half are good. You have to believe in it." Life is better when there are difficulties, and believe it or not, what you believe in is an intriguing topic through the ages. The film "Echoes of the Rainbow" is already a very old Hong Kong film in my impression, and the scattered ones can always leave memories of this film on the movie channel. This is already a childhood memory. When I grew up, I watched movies in china and abroad, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, but I forgot this masterpiece. Today I regain my childhood memories and read it all over again. There are many things that are worth learning and contemplating. Mrs. Luo said that "people must believe". After watching the movie, I have been thinking about what people want to believe, whether to believe in God or believe in fate. If you believe in God, will you really have no worries about food and clothing, and will not disturb you? If you believe in fate, will life really go on in the footsteps arranged by fate? What do people believe all their lives? The Mr. Luo's family is a positive image that cannot be beaten. Even after experiencing all kinds of hardships in life, they still don't give up doing their best to support this family. When the typhoon came, Lao Luo tried his best to protect the house. He kept chanting "keep the roof, keep the roof", and Brother took care of his little brother everywhere, and Mrs. Tai was also thinking about his two sons everywhere. Although a serious illness took Jin yi young life, Mr. Luo also gone a few years later. Originally a happy and happy home for four people, in the end only two people were left to stick to the roof. Perhaps Mrs. Tai believes in the arrangement of fate, and this "arrangement of fate" in her heart is that the elder son's illness will finally get better, and the family life will get better and better... The truth is cruel, and the elder's illness has not been cured. And she did not grow old with my husband. The result seemed very unsatisfactory, as if to say "this is a tragic story." But interested audiences will understand the role of "little brother" here. At the end of the story, Mrs. Luo and the younger brother saw the two rainbows what Jinyi said, and the mother took her son's hand towards the end of the story. In my opinion, this is not a tragedy. Mrs. Luo always believed that she did not believe it wrong, but the ending used another way to prove that she was right. Although she has lost her eldest son and husband, she still has a little son to accompany her. Both the little son and the eldest are played by Li Zhiyan, which also represents some spiritual sustenance. In fact, the family is still together, and it seems that they have never been separated. This is not just a family story, the family relationship is also mixed with the beauty of love. From the love between Jin Yi and Fang Fei in a young age, and the love between Lao Luo and his wife to the middle-aged, the beauty of the world is everywhere. In fact, life is not that difficult, "one step is difficult, one step is good, one step is good, one step is difficult." In times of difficulty, there will always be family members and lovers to bear with you, and in times of good, there will always be people who share the joy of happiness with you. This is life. No one can really distinguish whether life is difficult or good. The life both on it. When suffering is exhausted, it will come willingly, and when willingly comes, you must be prepared for suffering. People must believe and have faith in their hearts, and life will treat themselves kindly.

Although the film reflects Hong Kong in the 1960 s, it shows that ordinary people are struggling for life and exposing the gap between the rich and the poor in society. However, these are integrated into the daily life of ordinary people and are not expressed in a strong way. The more warm and optimistic the daily life of ordinary citizens is, the more they can show the difficulty of life and the indifference of reality. The film narrative is plain and simple, but it shows true feelings everywhere

Tagline: One of the simplest yet pleasantly emotional movies of the year...

Simon Yam has finally found his ground. After years of nominations, sweats and determination, Yam has won his most wanted award – HK Best Actor. Gladly he deserved it with both hands down. A bravo display from a true veteran at work and to say this is his best ever performance cannot be departed with understatement. The scene in the gushing of wind leading to the collapse of the shoe shop, confirms to us that Yam has finally hit the right emotional buttons. Well done. Usual writer Alex Law tries his hand at directing and the result is extraordinarily.

The story is a personal one and yet portrays the time frame of Hong Kong in the 1960s so perfectly that one feels immense into the every situation. It is rare that you come out of a commercial Hong Kong film with the same subtle feelings not seen since Ann Hui's The Way We Are. Yet, this film is far more accessible, simple and yet astonishingly moving. Echoes of the Rainbow do go the route taken, but goes about it in the most effective and simplistic of manner. Led by an excellent star turn from Buzz Chung who simply chew the scenes with both cuteness and innocence, adding to a mix is perhaps a slight mis-cast in Sandra Kwan, who still manages to impress. Perhaps, Teresa Mo (Mr. Cinema) may be a more suitable candidate for the role. The expression on Buzz's face when he hears about the death is almost seamlessly touching and almost lingering. Upcoming singer, Aarif Lee also does well and the award winning performance from Simon Yam sums up the movie. Exceeds expectations and beautiful to endure.

All in all, Echoes of the Rainbow fills the heart and the soul and despite its flaws, simplicity, it works. The film is most probably best Hong Kong film of the year and comes highly recommended...(Neo 2010)

I rate it 9/10

• www.thehkneo.com

MOVIES often transport us to worlds of fantasy and hype. This one, however, strives for nostalgic realism, tempering yesteryear charm and familial bond with a touch of tragedy. It is not a movie for the masses but "Echoes Of The Rainbow" is a rare gem for film buffs who look for something different from the familiar fare.

It will take you back to the Sixties, at the time when Neil Armstrong walked the moon, and maybe wring a tear or two out of you...

The film is about eight-year-old Big Ears (Buzz Chung Siu To, who narrates), growing up on Wing Lee Street in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan district, where his father (Simon Yam) runs a shoe shop on one end while his uncle owns a hair salon at the opposite end. Together, they take care of their customers' top and bottom, or so they boast.

Big Ears is a spoilt brat who makes a hobby of pinching stuff, quite unlike his elder brother Desmond (singer Aarif Lee) who is both a model student and a top athlete in school. The narrative follows the adventures of the two brothers, with Desmond courting the demure Flora (Evelyn Choi) - and Big Ears wearing a fish bowl on his head, dreaming of becoming Hong Kong's first astronaut.

The first thing that grabs us is the movie's attention to detail, recreating a part of Hong Kong that vibrates with local street life and small-time enterprise. The mood of nostalgia is further enhanced by director Law Kai Yu's inclusion of catchy Sixties songs, especially those of the Monkees, that Desmond loves to listen on the transistor radio. In this world, poverty may be romanticised with the neighbourhood community gathering together for dinner but the dark side, of widespread bribe-taking and corrupt cops and nurses, is also explored.

The cast is exemplary too, with young Buzz Chung effortlessly stealing the show from Aarif Lee and even veteran Yam. Chung helps to give the film a touch of playfulness and naivete, showing us Big Ear's kiddie point of view. Lee is rather bland in his role as the 'model son' and student but Sandra Ng is in her element as the resourceful and sweet-tongued mother. I find the ending rather melodramatic and predictable. Still, it seems the only way to close the story.

This movie won the Crystal Bear Award at the 60th Berlin Film Festival for Best New Generation Film and has been nominated for six prizes at the Hong Komng Film Awards. A rare and refreshing family movie. - By LIM CHANG MOH (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)