Neon lights have become the new face of Hong Kong in recent years. Especially in nostalgic Hong Kong movies.
Neon lights often shine on posters, like a touch of brilliance in the city, but also with a touch of loneliness.
Finally, someone spied on "neon lights" as a breakthrough. Touch the soul of Hong Kong and bring a touch of solace to the city.
Director Anastasia Tsang's debut film"A Light Never Goes Out"
Starring Sylvia Chang, Henick Chou, Simon Yam and Cecilia Choi. Sylvia Chang won three Golden Horse Awards for this film.
Bill Yeung (Simon Yam) in the story has "passed away" from the beginning.
After the death of Bill Yeung. Mei Heung (Sylvia Chang) often recalls the good times in their past.
But, daughter Prism (Cecilia Choi) does not seem to care about her father's death.
He even couldn't wait to pack his father's belongings. When the mother mentioned the past, the daughter was not interested.
This resulted in a fierce argument between mother and daughter.
At the same time, Mei Xiang has not yet realized that her daughter has planned to immigrate and leave Hong Kong.
On the night of the seventh day after Bill Yeung passed away. Mei Heung couldn't help but go to Bill Yeung's factory.
There was someone in the factory. Mei Heung almost thought it was Bill Yeung who had returned.
As a result, a young man named Leo (Henick Chou) claimed to be Bill Yeung's apprentice.
Although Leo was wearing a hood at the time, his appearance was suspicious. But Mei Heung believed him.
It shows that the elderly are easily deceived. But, it turns out that Hong Kong has not fallen to this level.
The reason Leo wore a hood was to prepare for suicide. It is unusual for a young person to think about suicide.
And this apprentice who has lost hope in life and Mei Heung who has lost her life goal. After "discovering" Bill Yeung's last wish. Found a reason to continue living.
The daughter who has always "broken off" with her father.
The daughter finally broke down after seeing the wishing lantern her father made for her.
There is a sharp contrast between the front and back. At first she insisted that she didn't want to cry, but this time, tears welled up in her eyes.
We may never prepared for loss, but when it happens, everyone feels panicked. You need to wait until this panic is over to pick up your life again.
To find Bill Yeung's last wish. Mei Heung and her apprentice visited many of Bill Yeung’s old customers.
One customer had a remarkable reversal. Bill Yeung helped her through the difficulties during SARS.
Now, she's sending a check for the big bucks. Mei Heung thought this was too much, but the boss said it was the debt from that year.
If Mei Heung hadn't supported Bill Yeung in doing this, this store would have closed long ago.
This makes Mei Heung quite embarrassed. Because she did not support Bill Yeung back then, but had a lot of troubles with him.
What Bill Yeung insists on is a "simple" desire, persistence, perseverance, and determination.
Yet, such persistence only left a debt in the end. The spirit of craftsmanship has disappeared under commercial packaging.
Wait until Mei Heung finally "discovers" Bill Yeung's last wish. But it was a truth that she "cannot accept".
Causing her to collapse. Homes, factories, everything given up. Mei Heung carried Bill Yeung's ashes to the rooftop.
Her past persistence became meaningless. She decided to immigrate with her daughter.
Of course, all this is a temporary vent. After catharsis, life must go on. The daughter was free, and Mei Heung freed.
The young apprentice found his own value fulfilling his "dying wish".
This series of stories, although it seems difficult to stop the flow of the times. But at least that night, everyone found their "home".
Hong Kong’s unique mood and romance—neon lights
There are a lot of flashbacks interspersed in the movie. It explains the love and family of Bill Yeung and Mei Heung when they were young.
At the same time, it expresses the emotion of "neon lights" to this generation and the city of Hong Kong.
Also to practical functions such as attracting guests and beautifying the city.
Neon lights have turned into works of art - "Neon lights are like writing calligraphy with light."
It becomes part of the city's culture. There is a genie living in the neon lights.
Make a wish to it. If the light flashes, it will help you realize your wish.
It symbolizes the old-school Hong Kong spirit of "everyone for one, one for everyone".
During the SARS period, Biao once took care of the neon lights for regular customers for free.
When the customer saw Mei Heung, he gave all the fees to Mei Heung.
As night falls, neon lights flash and the whole city immersed in a sea of lights.
This is Hong Kong’s unique mood and romance.
The care and nostalgia shown in the movie. In the story, it embodied in the pursuit of the master.
There is also the longing for her husband and the reluctance to leave her father.
Mei Heung and Prism put aside their hesitation and confusion.
Determined to work together to help Liu Muilai recreate the "Muilai" neon light.
As one of the nostalgic works in Hong Kong in recent years. The film's imagery uncomplicated.
Death, amnesia, common elements in Hong Kong movies continue to tell the regret of the past.
There are many realistic portrayals in the movie. Prism wants to immigrate to Australia.
Because there is more creative freedom there. When making light tubes, the other party worried that "this won't pass the approval now."
Prism said, "Whether it passes or fails, we will do it."
The movie put a lot of work into the neon craft. Many industry experts interviewed, and some footage also shows the production process.
But on the whole, the emphasis is on emotional expression and light on industry display.
The history, current status, and evolution of neon lighting is background.
The dragonfly touched the water and passed by. One hundred minutes of "standard" Hong Kong film length.
It cannot accommodate more serious stories. Looking back at the past and present of Hong Kong through the rise and fall of the industry.
It has become the joys and sorrows of a small family's life in a large historical environment.
The emotion remains, but the aura dissipates. It indeed a bit regretful for Neon to appear on the big screen as the "protagonist" for the first time.
The production cost limited. Creative ambition and ability are also constraints.
The biggest highlights are all the leading actors. Especially Sylvia Chang, whose performance is stable and has bright moments.
The past cannot returned, the present cannot retained, and the future is unknown. The feeling of it is difficult to describe in one word.
The neon lights are ready and shine on the rooftop of the old house.
The neon lights will taken down the next day, and the light will only illuminate for one night.
Even if you look back, you can give yourself an explanation.
The movie credits end. The picture fixed in another "lost Hong Kong" - the Jumbo seafood boat that sank in 2022.
Brilliant and dazzling, like fireworks in the sea. "
