A Simple Life

GREAT MOVIES: Ann Hui's A Simple Life (Hong Kong, 2011) - 2011VENic Best Actress Winner (Deanie Yip). 2012HFA Best Film, Director, Actor and Actress Winner. Suffused with the gentle, unforced humanity viewers have come to expect from Hong Kong helmer Ann Hui, "A Simple Life" is a tender ode to the elderly, their caregivers and the mutual generosity of spirit that makes their limited time together worthwhile. Fittingly for a film about the challenges and rewards of looking after the sick and aging, this well-observed, pleasantly meandering dramedy requires a measure of patience, and some judicious trimming would improve its chances for export. But the moving, never tearjerking lead performances by Andy Lau and Deanie Ip rep strong selling points for Hui's following at home and abroad. 2011TOR, 2011VENic, 2012HFA, 2012OE, 2012PALM, 2012ROTsp. RATING: 9