- Comrades: Almost a Love Story
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Comrades, Almost a Love Story
甜蜜蜜
Film poster of Comrades, Almost a Love StoryDirected by Peter Chan Produced by Peter Chan Written by Ivy Ho Starring Maggie Cheung
Leon Lai
Eric Tsang
Len Berdick
Cheung Tung-cho
Yue Ding
Christopher Doyle
Michelle Gabriel
Irene Tsu
Kristy YangMusic by Chiu Jun-Fun
Chiu Tsang-HeiCinematography Jingle Ma Editing by Chan Ki-hop
Kwong Chi-LeungRelease date(s) November 2, 1996 Country Hong Kong Language Cantonese, also available in Mandarin Comrades, Almost a Love Story (Chinese: 甜蜜蜜; pinyin: tián mì mì) is a 1996 Hong Kong film starring Maggie Cheung, Leon Lai, Eric Tsang, and Kristy Yang. It was directed by Peter Chan.
Contents
Plot
The film, spanning years, centers on two Chinese mainlanders who migrate to Hong Kong to make a living, but end up falling in love. Leon Lai plays a naive Northerner, Li Xiao-Jun, and Maggie Cheung plays an opportunist/entrepreneur, Li Qiao, who takes advantage of mainlanders like herself for financial gains. The loneliness of living in the big city inevitably brings the two into a passionate love affair. Because of his commitment to another woman, Xiaoting, Li Qiao leaves Li Xiao-Jun and winds up in a relationship with a mob boss named Pao. Li Xiao-Jun returns to and marries his fiance, but his love for Li Qiao continues and they secretly meet and rekindle their love. Unfortunately, guilt and circumstances lead Xiao-Jun and Li Qiao to separate, only to find each other again as lonely immigrants in America in the end. They have both been freed from their previous partners through a confession of the infidelity and a tragic death, and finally after almost ten years, the lovers are able to unite at last. It is an epic love story that spans ten years. It was filmed in Hong Kong and New York City.
Production
The Chinese title of the film, Tian Mi Mi, comes from a famous Teresa Teng song of the same name. The movie displays love of the famous singer who died a year before the film was released; the film is considered a love poem in memory of Teresa Teng. Her music is featured prominently throughout the film, and Teresa Teng herself is an important subplot for the movie. Leon Lai sings the title song for the ending credits. In a cameo performance, Christopher Doyle, the internationally-known cinematographer famous for his collaboration with Wong Kar-wai, plays an English teacher.
Reception
The movie was very well received in Hong Kong and Taiwan, winning best picture, director, and actress for the HK Film Academy Awards, among other wins. Maggie Cheung's performance also won general acclaim. The movie was voted #11 of the Greatest Chinese Films of all time by the Chinese Movie Database (www.dianying.com) and #28 of the 100 Greatest Chinese Films by the Hong Kong Film Awards. It is also listed in the 100 Greatest Chinese Films of the 20th Century by Asia Weekly Magazine.
Awards and nominations
Awards
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Peter Chan Ho-Sun
- Best Actress - Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk
- Best Supporting Actor - Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
- Best Screenplay - Ivy Ho
- Best Cinematography - Jingle Ma Chor-Sing
- Best Art Direction - Hai Chung-Man
- Best Costume Design - Ng Lei-Lo
- Best Original Music Score - Chui Jun-Fun
Nominations
- Best Actor - Leon Lai
- Best Newcomer - Kristy Yang
Golden Horse Film Awards
- Best Picture
- Best Actress
See also
External links
- Comrades: Almost a Love Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Comrades, Almost a Love Story
甜蜜蜜 at AllRovi
Films directed by Peter Chan Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye · He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father · Tom, Dick and Hairy · Trouble, I've Had It All My Days · He's a Woman, She's a Man · The Age of Miracles · Comrades: Almost a Love Story · Who's the Woman, Who's the Man? · The Love Letter · Three ("Going Home") · Project 1:99 · Perhaps Love · The Warlords · Wu XiaHong Kong Film Award for Best Film Father and Son (1982) • Boat People (1983) • Ah Ying (1984) • Homecoming (1985) • Police Story (1986) • A Better Tomorrow (1987) • An Autumn's Tale (1988) • Rouge (1989) • Beyond the Sunset (1990) • Days of Being Wild (1991) • To Be Number One (1992) • Cageman (1993) • C'est la vie, mon chéri (1994) • Chungking Express (1995) • Summer Snow (1996) • Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1997) • Made in Hong Kong (1998) • Beast Cops (1999) • Ordinary Heroes (2000) • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001) • Shaolin Soccer (2002) • Infernal Affairs (2003) • Running on Karma (2004) • Kung Fu Hustle (2005) • Election (2006) • After This Our Exile (2007) • The Warlords (2008) • Ip Man (2009) • Bodyguards and Assassins (2010) • Gallants (2011)HKFA • Film • Director • Golden Horse Award for Best Film Sun, Moon and Star (1962) · The Love Eterne (1963) · Beautiful Duckling (1965) · Hsi-shih, Beauty of Beauties (1966) · Orchids and My Love (1967) · The Road (1968) · Spring in a Small Town (1969) · Home Sweet Home (1970 · The Story of Ti-Ying (1971) · Execution in Autumn (1972) · The Escape (1973) · Land of the Undaunted (1975) · The Victory (1976) · Heroes of the Eastern Skies (1977) · He Never Gives Up (1978) · Story of a Small Town (1979) · Good Morning, Taipei (1980) · If I Were for Real (1981) · The Battle for the Republic of China (1982) · Growing Up (1983) · Old Mao's Second Spring (1984) · Kuei-Mei, a Woman (1985) · The Terrorizers (1986) · Straw Man (1987) · Painted Faces (1988) · Full Moon in New York (1989) · Red Dust (1990) · A Brighter Summer Day (1991) · Hill of No Return (1992) · The Wedding Banquet (1993) · Vive L'Amour (1994) · Summer Snow (1995) · In the Heat of the Sun (1996) · Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1997) · Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (1998) · Ordinary Heroes (1999) · Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) · Durian Durian (2001) · The Best of Times (2002) · Infernal Affairs (2003) · Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (2004) · Kung Fu Hustle (2005) · After This Our Exile (2006) · Lust, Caution (2007) · The Warlords (2008) · No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti (2009) · When Love Comes (2010)
Categories:- Hong Kong films
- 1996 films
- Best Film HKFA
- Cantonese-language films
- Films directed by Peter Chan
- Hong Kong film stubs
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