In 1985, Mabel Cheung was awarded Best Director for her first film, The Illegal Immigrant. This film, produced by D & B Films, is the second part of her ‘Migration Trilogy'. Recipient of numerous film awards, this is Cheung's second directorial effort and features Law as scriptwriter. Cherie Chung plays Jennifer, a romantic university student who goes to New York to be with her boyfriend (Danny Chan). Unfortunately, he dumps her. A stranger in a strange land, Jennifer discovers the only person who shows her any concern is Samuel Pang (Chow Yun-fat), a waiter at a Chinatown restaurant. Samuel is vulgar and addicted to gambling, everything Jennifer dislikes in a man. They argue continuously, but somehow love grows between them. The three screen idols Chung, Chan and Chow all portray characters not typical of their usual types, bringing a breath of fresh air to the film. The emotional ups and downs are expertly handled. The different levels of interweaving of romance, at once gentle and melancholic, have become the signature touch of the Mabel Cheung-Alex Law, director-writer combination.

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Cheung's Statement

When a person is uprooted and transplanted overseas, to live in a place where nothing is familiar, a lot of your psychological boundaries and preconceived notions will be shattered.

When I was studying in the US, I was desolate and impoverished. At that time, I felt that anyone with black hair and yellow skin was potentially a friend.

So when I was working ‘under the table' in Chinatown, I got to know an illegal immigrant nicknamed ‘Wrinkled Lemon'. When I was at the lowest point in my life, he helped and encouraged me. One of the most interesting people I have ever met, he was the inspiration for the character Samuel Pang.

An Autumn's Tale is one of my memories during the time I was studying in New York, and my gift to this good friend of mine.

# Post-screening talk with Mabel Cheung, Alex Law and John Sham

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