Made at a time when economic prosperity was on the horizon, this is likely the last great neo-realist film of Cantonese cinema. The story of a school teacher struggling to make ends meet is rich in details, culled directly from newspaper accounts of the poverty and misery that was still plaguing Hong Kong. Chor Yuen wrote and directed the film for Shan Luen Motion Picture Company, formed by his father Cheung Wood-yau and Pak Yin, both of them also starred. As such, the film is as much a family affair as it is a tribute to Cheung's generation. The scene in which the teacher's family shares their supposedly last supper, featuring a long-desired salted egg, has gone down in Hong Kong film history as one of its most touching.

The image and sound quality of the original prints is short of ideal, we appreciate your understanding.

# Post-screening talk with director Kearen Pang; Moderator: Manfred Wong

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