The main cast of Once in a Blue Moon at the world premiere
of their film at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
Once in a Blue Moon (Hong Kong, 2023)
- Andy Lo, director and scriptwriter
- Starring: Gladys Li, Peter Chan Charm-man, Loletta Lee, Sumling Li
In recent years, Hong Kong films have tended to have political content without being explicitly political. Once in a Blue Moon -- produced by a company, Emperor Motion Pictures, that many would mark as being pro-Beijing - may well be the first one I've seen that is not like this. At least, I hope so -- since its general message is about how people should let go of the past in order to move on and be happier -- something that, frankly, I'm still loath to do as far as political things go with regards to this city -- would otherwise be interpreted as being pro-Beijing.
So if I'm supposed to take that message and apply it that way, I'd have a problem right there with this cinematic offering. Thus it is that I'm going to not do so -- and, instead, discuss and analyze the film in a non-political way (for a change?!). Instead, I'll look at Once a Blue Moon as presenting a portrait of a Hong Kong family -- one that, for me, rings more true than a film with precisely that title that I viewed around 11 months ago!
Interestingly, both Once in a Blue Moon and Hong Kong Family revolve around families that are far from perfect and, in fact, are broken. In the case of this Andy Lo film, the family consists of a mother (essayed by Loletta Lee) whose husband left her back when her children were very young -- so much so that the daughter, Mei-chen (played by Gladys Li), had no idea why he did so, and her elder brother (portrayed by Peter Chan Charm-man) was traumatised enough that he didn't really want to talk or think about it for years.
In the present day, the mother -- who, these days, is a tailor by trade -- seems to have adjusted fairly well to having had to raise a family on her own. At the very least, she comes across as a stoic sort who's not wont to complain about her lot as well as doesn't ask much of life in general and, also, her children who she clearly loves -- and who clearly love her back.
The problem though for her son -- who works with aquariums for a living -- is that, while he also loves his wife (played by Collar band member, Sumling Li), she no longer loves him. And, in fact, it soon is revealed in Once in a Blue Moon that they have already been separated -- only he can't bring himself to tell his mother and sister about this, and, actually, has not fully accepted that his marriage is over.
Then there's Mei-chen, who's biggest problem appears to be that she does not love herself enough. She also is in a dead-end job, in a convenience store ,with an awful boss. (By the way, I liked that, in this pandemic era film, he is the one person in it who consistently wears his mask under his nose (and also -- hmmm, is this a political dig?! -- wears a "Carrie Lam underwear" mask)!) Also, her continuing to think about, even pine for, her father is a low level issue that ends up causing a lot of pain after an unexpected discovery on her part.
If Once in a Blue Moon fixated on the sad parts of life, it'd have been hard to get through. Fortunately, Alan Lo throws in some lighter, comedic moments -- many courtesy of a character played by The Sparring Partner's Alan Yeung, who would have stolen the show if not for the main cast of this film showing themselves to be watchable actors capable of generating sympathy and even empathy for their feeling-hard-done-by characters.
More than incidentally, he, too, has not been dealt the best of hand by Lady Luck -- professionally as well as in terms of family arrangements. But his more, well, ga yau attitude is impressive -- and invests his story with hope. As does Mei-chen and her brother finally being able to let go of certain of their preoccupations and learning to value the love that does exist in their lives.
My rating for this film: 7.0
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