I've seen movies similar to A Simple Life before, but every time I watch one I'm emotionally affected. Because films like this connect with me on an emotional level, I'm kinder to them in my rating/ranking. But there isn't a whole lot of story involved beyond an old woman living out her final years in a nursing home while being visited by her "family." You can certainly see why A Simple Life earned its title, because the main character did live a rather uneventful life which completely revolved around the family that employed her. The actors are all good, and you can't help loving the character of Ah Tao because Deannie Ip is absolutely charming. Andy Lau makes a bold choice in presenting Roger as a stoic character who internalizes his emotions, but you can still feel how these sad times are affecting him. A Simple Life is a decent film, but not one that is special or unique enough to set it apart from other movies with similar plotlines. Yet, it still made me cry, so there is an engaging quality to the movie that might work extremely well for some viewers.
Review of A Simple Life
