A 40-year-old high school teacher Lam Yiu-kwok (Jacky Cheung) is caught in his midlife crisis, a marriage on the rocks, and a taboo teacher-student romance when his student Choy-lam (Karena Lam) doesn't seem to hide her crush on him, while his wife Chan Man-ching (Anita Mui) is off to care for her dying ex-lover, Mr Seng (Tou Chung-hua), who shares a complicated history with the couple.

Celebrated female director Ann Hui delves deep into middle-aged angst again after Summer Snow (1995). Drawing on Chinese poetry and student-teacher romances in two generations, the film poetically explores the trials and tribulations of middle adulthood, grieving over broken relationships, long-gone youth and lost dreams. While the film is quiet in tone, it's a deeply affecting human drama that captures turbulent emotions. In her final film appearance, Mui completely disappears into her role as an everyday woman with a long-buried secret, and a mother/wife who lost herself in marriage in search of love and acceptance. Her organic and effortless performance earned her multiple Best Actress nominations.

# Post-screening talk with Thomas Shin

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.