Fly Me to the Moon (2023 film)

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fly Me to the Moon
Theatrical poster
Traditional Chinese但願人長久
Directed bySasha Chuk
Screenplay bySasha Chuk
Produced byStanley Kwan
Jun Li
StarringSasha Chuk
Angela Yuen
Wu Kang-ren
CinematographyAllan Chan
Ho Yuk Fai
Edited byWilliam Chang
Yeung King Lun
Lai Kwun-Tung
Production
companies
Create Hong Kong
Flow of Words
Distributed byGolden Scene
Release dates
Running time
113 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguagesCantonese, Mandarin, Hunanese
BudgetHK$5,000,000[1]

Fly Me to the Moon (Chinese: 但願人長久) is a 2023 Hong Kong family drama film directed and written by Sasha Chuk, and produced by Stanley Kwan and Jun Li. Chuk also stars in a lead role, alongside Angela Yuen and Wu Kang-ren, as a Hunanese girl immigrated to Hong Kong at a young age and faces poverty, discrimination and family issues.

The film had its world premiere at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 23, 2023, and was theatrically released on April 11, 2024, in Hong Kong. It received six nominations in the 30th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award, with Sasha Chuk winning Best Screenplay and Wu Kang-ren winning Best Actor.

Synopsis[edit]

In 1997, Lam Tsz Yuen, a seven-year-old Hunanese girl, migrates to Hong Kong with her mother to reunite with her father, Kok Man, who had previously smuggled into Hong Kong and became a thief. However, due to her status as a mainland immigrant, she faces bullying at school and has a difficult childhood. One day, Yuen's father notices her eyeing for a pack of candy and steals it from a store for her. Influenced by her father, Yuen steals a watch from a classmate but is discovered by her mother. Enraged, Yuen's mother blames Kok Man for his bad influence on Yuen due to his stealing and continuous drug use. The tension between Kok Man and his wife eases when Yuen's younger sister, Lam Tsz Kuet, also migrates to Hong Kong and reunites with the family. However, their happiness is short-lived as Kok Man is arrested for theft, leaving his wife to raise their two daughters alone for the next ten years while he is in jail.

In 2007, Kok Man is released from prison. Yuen and Kuet have already learned Cantonese and integrated well at school. Yuen has to work part-time to earn money and enters into a relationship with a bad boy named Sky who steals candy for her from a convenience store. Meanwhile, Kuet witnesses her classmates discriminating against and bullying a mainland immigrant classmate. Fearing being looked down upon by her peers, Kuet steals money from her sister to buy new trousers for a school trip. When Yuen discovers her money being stolen, she immediately accuses her father of taking it. This leads to a heated argument between Kok Man and Yuen. Although Kuet later reveals the truth and apologizes to her sister, the relationship between Yuen and Kok Man deteriorates. Yuen also has a falling out with Sky and breaks up with him due to her insecurities. Kok Man visits his long-time drug addict friend, Fai, only to find him dead. With his drug supply cut off, Kok Man resorts to attempting to steal his family's valuables in front of Kuet to fund his purchase of drugs. Kuet tries to call her sister but is forcefully stopped by Kok Man. However, when Kok Man sees the fear on Kuet's face, he backs down, feels remorse, and breaks down in tears. Yuen returns home but ignores her father. Caught between the two, Kuet asks Yuen to lend her money, which she gives to Kok Man to help him fulfill his addiction. Kok Man leaves a note for Yuen, promising to return the money soon.

In 2017, Kok Man is incarcerated once again, and Kuet visits him in jail. Yuen becomes a tour guide and enters into a friends-with-benefits relationship with a Taiwanese man named Xiao Yu in Japan. While at an izakaya, she is flirted with by a Japanese man, which is discovered by Xiao Yu. Yuen clarifies to Xiao Yu that their relationship is casual and eventually breaks up with him. Upon returning to Hong Kong from her trip, Yuen receives an invitation from Kuet to have dinner with their father. Initially hesitant, Yuen still shows up but remains taciturn during the gathering. Later, when Yuen goes to visit Kuet, she encounters Kok Man near their house. After all these years, the duo finally starts breaking the ice and chatting. Kok Man informs Yuen of his decision to return to Hunan and invites her to visit their homeland during the blooming season of lilies. Soon after, Yuen receives the news of Kok Man's death, prompting her to return to Hunan to visit her relatives on behalf of her father. Finally, Yuen receives a voice recording of Kok Man from Kuet, where he expresses his desire to have another meal with her.

Cast[edit]

  • Sasha Chuk as Lam Tsz Yuen: a Hunan native who migrated to Hong Kong to reunite with her father and encounters challenges such as poverty, discrimination, and family issues.[2]
    • Chloe Hui and Yoyo Tse portrayed younger versions of Yuen in 1997 and 2007[2]
  • Angela Yuen as Lam Tsz Kuet: Yuen's younger sister who also migrated to Hong Kong and works hard to adapt to the city.[2]
    • Skylar Pang and Natalie Hsu portrayed younger versions of Kuet in 1997 and 2007[2]
  • Wu Kang-ren as Lam Kok Man: the father of Yuen and Kuet, who smuggled into Hong Kong to escape poverty but ends up becoming a drug addict and thief.[2]

Also appearing in the film are Carmen Chou as Yuen and Kuet's mother;[3] Chu Pak Hong as Fai, a drug-addict friend and fellow thief with Kok Man;[4] Wu Chien-ho as Xiao Yu, a friend with benefits of Yuen;[5] and Wong Tsz Ho as Sky, Yuen's first love.[6]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

In 2017, Chinese literature graduate Sasha Chuk published a semi-autobiographical novella Farewell of Summer based on her personal experience as a mainland native who immigrated to Hong Kong when she was six years old.[7][8] She began adapting her book into a screenplay while filming the short film Plain Sailing, and was encouraged by producer Jun Li to take on the lead acting role simultaneously.[9] In 2020, Chuk applied for the Hong Kong Film Development Council's First Feature Film Initiative and received funding of HK$5 million.[8][10] The film then underwent approximately three years of pre-production.[1] Chuk also served as the film's director, marking her directorial, scriptwriting, and acting debut in a feature film.[9] Taiwanese actor Wu Kang-ren was attached to the project in the early stages of casting, on the recommendation of Li to Chuk when Chuk was looking for a non-Cantonese native-speaking actor.[11] Wu accepted the role right after finishing the shooting of Abang Adik and spent four months residing in Hong Kong to familiarize himself with the traits of Hong Kongers.[12][13] The film was enlisted in the Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum in March 2023,[10][14] and was selected on the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion in September 2023.[15]

Filming[edit]

Principal photography began in July 2022.[1] Filming was intended to take place in Hong Kong and Tokyo, but due to budget constraints, Chuk was only able to afford a four-member production crew while filming in Japan, and some scenes had to be rewritten to film in Taiwan.[16][17] Chuk also served as the Hunanese tutor on set.[12] Filming ultimately wrapped in December 2022.[1]

Release[edit]

Fly Me to the Moon had its world premiere at the Asian Future section of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 24, 2023.[18] The film was also selected as the closing film of the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on November 12, 2023,[19] and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on April 11, 2024.[20]

Reception[edit]

Edmund Lee of South China Morning Post gave the film 4/5 stars and lauded Sasha Chuk's talent as a screenwriter, director, and actress, with a fragmented yet grounded narrative and powerful performances, but noting that the serene approach may not resonate with the mainstream Hong Kong audience despite addressing various social issues.[2] Wendy Ide of Screen Daily described the film as an affecting and hard-edged domestic saga, marking director Sasha Chuk as a name to watch, with a focus on the impact of the father's sins on his daughters, although the film's use of music is slightly jarring and tonally inconsistent with its brooding and complex exploration of family bonds.[21] Keith Ho, writing for HK01, praised the poignant portrayal of Hong Kong's transformation over the past twenty years, drawing from Sasha Chuk's own experiences, while also highlighting the excellent performances of the cast, particularly Wu Kang-ren, and the film's clever use of different time periods as a storytelling device to portray complex family bonds.[5] Hsiao Yun of United Daily News emphasized Sasha Chuk's exploration of identity, social structure, and the experiences of new immigrants in Hong Kong through the characters, ultimately highlighting the protagonist's journey towards a multifaceted sense of self.[22]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2023 60th Golden Horse Awards Best New Performer Yoyo Tse Won [23]
Best Adapted Screenplay Sasha Chuk Nominated
Prix FIPRESCI — Won [24]
NETPAC Award — Won
2024 30th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award Best Film — Nominated [25]
Best Director Sasha Chuk Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
Best Actor Wu Kang-ren Won
Best Actress Yoyo Tse Nominated
Films of Merit — Won
17th Asian Film Awards Best Newcomer Yoyo Tse Nominated [26]
2023 Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards Best New Actor Yoyo Tse Won [27]
42nd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Wu Kang-ren Nominated [28][29]
Best New Performer Yoyo Tse Won
Best Costume Make Up Design William Chang, Seven Dos Santos Nominated
Best New Director Sasha Chuk Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d 黃璇 (March 16, 2023). "香港亞洲電影投資會頒獎 《但願人長久》奪4獎大贏家" (in Chinese). China News Service. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lee, Edmund (April 9, 2024). "Fly Me to the Moon movie review: Hong Kong writer Sasha Chuk makes directing debut with wistful coming-of-age drama". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  3. ^ 黃創筠 (April 10, 2024). "《但願人長久》：既相逢，卻匆匆" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Film Critics Society. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "《但願人長久》有種為時已晚的痛丨頭條戲場" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. April 11, 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ a b 何故 (April 4, 2024). "《但願人長久》年輕演員亮麗表現　團隊薪火相傳的佳作｜何故專欄" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "但願人長久丨吳慷仁成首位奪電影評論學會影帝台灣演員　謝票問黃梓豪：做咩打我個女？" (in Chinese). TOPick. March 8, 2024. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  7. ^ 王佳文 (April 5, 2024). "取材自身移民經歷 《但願人長久》的漂泊與成長 編導祝紫嫣：不願避而不談" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Inmedia. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  8. ^ a b 甄梓鈴 (November 24, 2023). "【專訪】導演祝紫嫣，「但願人長久」寫的是成長傷痕" (in Chinese). Cup Media. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  9. ^ a b 丘瑞欣 (March 8, 2024). "【專訪《但願人長久》導演祝紫嫣】何處心安是吾家？改編自身新移民背景　祝紫嫣：我想導自己編的故事" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Rosser, Michael (March 17, 2023). "Stanley Kwan-produced 'Fly Me To The Moon' sweeps Work-in-Progress awards at HAF 2023". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "但願人長久｜導演祝紫嫣取材自身經歷　首次見吳慷仁感覺「係佢喇」" (in Chinese). TOPick. April 12, 2024. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Chou, Inna (April 11, 2024). "專訪｜《但願人長久》吳慷仁用「衛生紙」創造令人爆哭的演技細節、眼神被導演大讚「比劇本寫得更深刻」" (in Chinese). Vogue. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  13. ^ 莫匡堯 (April 12, 2024). "但願人長久專訪︱吳慷仁流連深水埗入戲　體驗道友生活︰一齊食煙" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  14. ^ Frater, Patrick (March 15, 2023). "'Fly Me to the Moon' Wins Unprecedented Five Awards at the HAF Project Market". Variety. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  15. ^ Wong, Silvia (September 26, 2023). "Taiwan's Golden Horse project market unveils 46 film projects". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  16. ^ 熊景玉 (April 7, 2024). "【專訪】自編自導自演《但願人長久》　香港新銳導演曝為了劇情張力做1事" (in Chinese). Mirror Media. Archived from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "香港亞洲電影投資會｜祝紫嫣執導《但願人長久》奪四獎大贏家" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. March 15, 2023. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  18. ^ Wong, Silvia (October 4, 2023). "Golden Scene boards Tokyo competition title 'Fly Me To The Moon' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  19. ^ 陳穎思 (November 12, 2023). "亞洲電影節｜袁澧林同吳慷仁排戲喊到崩潰　拍台劇最大開心伙食好" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  20. ^ 盧珮瑤 (April 11, 2024). "專訪｜是異鄉人也是常客 — 吳慷仁的香港情意結：港人生命力強，時代變化不怕輸" (in Chinese). Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Ide, Wendy (October 23, 2023). "'Fly Me To The Moon': Tokyo Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  22. ^ 蕭雲 (April 12, 2024). "香港新移民在《但願人長久》的追尋：哪裡得到理解，哪裡就是家" (in Chinese). United Daily News. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Lee, Edmund (October 4, 2023). "Golden Horse Awards 2023 nominations: Time Still Turns The Pages, In Broad Daylight lead Hong Kong contenders at Taiwan film event once again shunned by Beijing". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  24. ^ Hsu, Daniel; Kao, Aslan (April 8, 2024). "不一樣的金馬影帝吳慷仁！苦練廣東話、呈現說不出口的父愛，《但願人長久》2024 年 4 月全台感動上映" (in Chinese). GQ Taiwan. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  25. ^ 莫匡堯 (January 15, 2024). "評論學會大獎︱吳慷仁揮低梁朝偉 余香凝四度提名封后：很大肯定" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  26. ^ Frater, Patrick; Naman, Ramachandran (March 10, 2024). "'Evil Does Not Exist' Wins Best Picture at Asian Film Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  27. ^ 莫匡堯 (March 16, 2024). "謝咏欣獲導演會最佳新演員　望再拍吳慷仁︰唔使畀佢打或者打返佢" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  28. ^ Lee, Edmund (February 7, 2024). "Hong Kong Film Awards 2024 nominations in full: In Broad Daylight leads the race with 16 nods, followed by Time Still Turns the Pages and The Goldfinger". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  29. ^ Ng, Kang-chung; Hung, Emily (April 14, 2024). "Court drama A Guilty Conscience picks up top prize at Hong Kong Film Awards while crime thriller The Goldfinger is big winner". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on April 14, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fly_Me_to_the_Moon_(2023_film)&oldid=1219425215"