July Rhapsody Explained

July Rhapsody 男人四十
Director:Ann Hui
Producer:Ann Hui, Derek Yee
Starring:Jacky Cheung
Anita Mui
Karena Lam
Shaun Tam
Music:Tommy Wai
Cinematography:Kwan Pun-leung
Thomas Yeung
Editing:Eric Kwong
Studio:FilmKo Pictures
Distributor:FilmKo Pictures Distribution
Runtime:103 minutes
Country:Hong Kong
Language:Cantonese
Gross:HK$4,874,951

July Rhapsody is a 2002 Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and produced by Ann Hui and Derek Yee. This was Anita Mui's final film appearance before her death from cervical cancer in 2003.

Overview

The film's Chinese title literally translates to Man, 40. Its alternative title is Laam yan sei sap. The film explores midlife crisis, marriage, and teacher-student seduction.[1] [2]

Plot

Lam Yiu-kwok (Jacky Cheung), a Hong Kong secondary school teacher, is facing a midlife crisis, marriage problems, and seduction by a student. He and his wife Man-ching (Anita Mui) are married, living in a modest apartment with their two sons. However, his first son On (Shaun Tam) is not his, but from his wife and Mr. Seng (Tou Chung Hua), their former teacher. When Man-ching was a student, she seduced Mr. Seng, her teacher. As a teacher, Lam Yiu-kwok does not have financial success like his friends, successful businessmen and professionals who flaunt their extravagant lifestyles at reunion dinners. Lam Yiu-kwok's wife's ex-lover Mr. Seng returns to Hong Kong. Mr. Seng is old and dying and she is obliged to spend time with her ex-lover. In school, Lam Yiu-kwok receives flirtatious attention from Choi-lam (Karena Lam), a student from his class who has a crush on him. Lam Yiu-kwok's resistance from his raunchy student begins to weaken.[3] [4] [5]

Cast

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
CeremonyCategoryRecipientOutcome
21st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest FilmJuly Rhapsody
Best DirectorAnn Hui
Best ActorJacky Cheung
Best ActressAnita Mui
Best Supporting ActressKarena Lam
Best New PerformerKarena Lam
Best ScreenplayIvy Ho
Best Art DirectionMan Nim-chung
39th Golden Horse AwardsBest Feature FilmJuly Rhapsody
Best ActressAnita Mui
Best Supporting ActressKarena Lam
Best New PerformerKarena Lam
Best Original ScreenplayIvy Ho
Best Art DirectionMan Nim-chung
Best Costume & Make-up DesignMan Nim-chung
8th Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsFilm of MeritJuly Rhapsody
6th Golden Bauhinia AwardsBest DirectorAnn Hui
Best ActorJacky Cheung
Best ActressAnita Mui
Best Supporting ActressKarena Lam
Best ScreenplayIvy Ho
Top Ten Chinese-language filmsJuly Rhapsody
50th International Film Festival of IndiaBest ActorJacky Cheung
6th Changchun Film FestivalBest ActressAnita Mui
7th Verona Love Screens Film FestivalBest FilmJuly Rhapsody
2nd Chinese Film Media Awards
(Hong Kong and Taiwan)
Best FilmJuly Rhapsody
Best DirectorAnn Hui
Best ActorJacky Cheung
Best ActressAnita Mui
HKSAR 10th Anniversary Film AwardsBest ScreenplayIvy Ho

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Border Crossings: Ann Hui's cinema . sensesofcinema.com . Freda . Freiberg . October 2002 . October 18, 2020.
  2. Web site: July Rhapsody (AKA Man of 40) (Laam yan sei sap) . harvardfilmarchive.org . March 2007 . October 18, 2020.
  3. Web site: July Rhapsody . variety.com . David . Stratton . February 12, 2002 . October 18, 2020.
  4. Web site: July Rhapsody. eyeforfilm.co.uk . Gabriella . Trybalska . August 21, 2002 . October 18, 2020.
  5. Web site: July Rhapsody . homemcr.org . October 2009 . October 18, 2020.
  6. Web site: Retrospective on Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui's classic works . info.gov.hk . 2018 . October 18, 2020.