The Banquet (1991) (Digitally Restored Version)

Dirs: Tsui Hark, Clifton Ko Chi-sum, Cheung Tung-joe, Alfred Cheung
Orig Scr: South China Film Industry Workers Union
Scr: Choi Ting-ting
Prod Co: Hitamin
Cast: Eric Tsang, Dodo Cheng, Richard Ng, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Rosamund Kwan
1991 | Colour | DCP | Cantonese | Chi & Eng Subtitles | 96min

The Banquet is a remake in double sense—that of the story about a feast hosted by a rich family and of the production’s fundraising effort. Based on the 1959 classic Feast of a Rich Family, made to support the South China Film Industry Workers Union, this was produced to raise relief funds for the Eastern China Flood of 1991. The film recreates the predecessor’s storyline with twists, following wealthy businessman Tsang (Eric Tsang) and his wife (Dodo Cheng) as they try to deceive a Kuwaiti prince (George Lam) into believing they provide a luxurious life for Tsang’s father (Richard Ng), in order to secure a lucrative business deal. In reality, Tsang’s father still lives modestly in grassroots public housing with his daughter (Rosamund Kwan) and her husband (Tony Leung Ka-fai). What follows is a series of farcical attempts to maintain the illusion, blending satire on greed and filial piety with heartfelt moments.

Gang directed by Alfred Cheung, Cheung Tung-joe, Clifton Ko and Tsui Hark and collaboratively scripted by a team, the film brims with humour and nostalgia, featuring parodies of iconic Hong Kong films like All for the Winner (1990) and the It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World series (1987-1989). Adding to the star-studded cast are cameos from an unprecedented number of the era’s biggest names. Watching The Banquet in 2025, soaking in a celebration of our entertainment industry’s heyday is heartwarming, but seeing the presence of late icons like Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, and Wong Ka-kui is bittersweet.

Courtesy of Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers

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