Love After Love (2020 film) explained

Love After Love
Native Name:	Child: yes Hide: no Header: none T: 第一爐香 S: 第一炉香 P: Dì yī lú xiāng
Director:	Ann Hui
Producer:	Ann Hui
Starring:	Ma Sichun Faye Yu Eddie Peng Chang Chun-ning Fan Wei
Narrators:	-->
Music:	Ryuichi Sakamoto
Cinematography:	Christopher Doyle
Editing:	Kwong Chi-leung Mary Stephen
Production Companies:	Alibaba Pictures Blue Bird Film HeHe Pictures
Distributor:	Fortissimo Films
Runtime:	144 minutes^[1]
Country:	China
Language:	Mandarin
Gross:	¥64 million^[2] ^[3]

Love After Love is a 2020 Chinese romance drama film directed by Ann Hui, and starring Ma Sichun, Faye Yu, Eddie Peng, Chang Chun-ning and Fan Wei. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2020.^{[4] [5]} It was released theatrically in China on October 22, 2021.^[6]

The film marked the third time Hui directed an Eileen Chang adaptation (following 1984's Love In A Fallen City and 1997's Eighteen Springs). It is an adaption of Chang's novella Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier,^[7] a sprawling love story set in 1940s Hong Kong.^{[8] [9]}

Synopsis

Set in Hong Kong shortly before the Second World War, Ge Weilong (Sandra Ma) plays a young girl who travels from Shanghai to Hong Kong in pursuit of education, but ends up working for her aunt seducing rich and powerful men.

Cast

• Ma Sichun as Ge Weilong
• Faye Yu as Aunt Liang
• Eddie Peng as Qiao Qiqiao (George Qiao)
• Janine Chang as Ni'er
• Fan Wei as Situ Xie
• Zhang Jianing as Sui Sui
• Yin Fang as Lu Zhaolin
• Isabella Leong as Ji Jie
• Paul Chun as Sir Qiao Cheng
• Michelle Bai as Mrs Xin

Music

The film's soundtrack was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.^[10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2020.^[11] It also screened at the 25th Busan International Film Festival on October 23, 2020,^{[12] [13]} and at the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival on October 31, 2020.^[14]

Awards and nominations

Year	Ceremony	Category	Recipient	Results
2022	40th Hong Kong Film Awards	Best Cinematography	Christopher Doyle, Kubbie Tsoi		^[15]
		Best Art Direction	Zhao Hai
		Best Costume Make Up Design	Emi Wada
		Best Original Film Score	Ryuichi Sakamoto

Notes and References

1. Web site: 第一炉香 (豆瓣). douban. July 5, 2021.
2. Web site: Love After Love - Box Office Mojo. Box Office Mojo. November 11, 2021.
3. Web site: 创许鞍华作品新低，5.6分的《第一炉香》错在哪？. 2021-12-04. 1905电影网.
4. News: Venice 2020 preview: Screen's guide to the Out Of Competition titles. Screen Daily. July 5, 2021.
5. News: 'Love After Love' ('Di Yu Lu Xiang'): Film Review. Hollywood Reporter. July 5, 2021.
6. News: 许鞍华新片《第一炉香》定档10.22 马思纯彭于晏演绎张爱玲笔下爱情故事 . Sohu News. 2021-09-22.
7. Web site: Clare . 2011-01-17 . Review: Love in a Fallen City . 2023-05-11 . The Literary Omnivore . en.
8. News: 'Love After Love': Venice Review. Screen Daily. July 5, 2021.
9. News: Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong: Ann Hui on "Love After Love". MUBI. July 5, 2021.
10. Web site: Lo . Zabrina . Ann Hui’s New Film ‘Love After Love’ is Finally Screening in Hong Kong . 2023-05-11 . Tatler Asia . en.
11. Web site: Biennale Cinema 2020 - Di yi lu xiang (Love After Love). Venice Film Festival. 12 August 2020 . 5 July 2021.
12. Web site: Ann Hui's "Love After Love" Selected for Gala Presentation at BIFF. Haps Korea. October 7, 2020. 5 July 2021.
13. Web site: Ann Hui's LOVE AFTER LOVE Selected for Gala Presentation at Busan International Film Festival. Vimooz. 6 October 2020 . July 5, 2021.
14. Web site: Schedule for 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival(2020) (Love After Love). Tokyo International Film Festival. July 5, 2021.
15. Web site: Nomination List of The 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.