User Reviews

I was surprised that this film won an award at an international film festival. I am not being racist, being a Hong Kong person myself. I didn't know that Westerners would appreciate the charm and quaintness of "unspoilt" urban Hong Kong.

This film is so full of 60s old Hong Kong flavour, that it will certainly churn up collective memories of old timers like myself. The street scenes coupled with all the other little bits and pieces of prop were so authentic that one could hear "ooohs" and "aaahs" from the audience. It was really heart-warming to see (and remember) that family closeness once existed in "ancient" times.

Being a woman, I was prepared that this would be chick-flick with a lot of tear jerking scenes, because I read a bit of blurb about the story. Fortunately, the whole movie is not all teary -- there were a lot of comical moments at the start, especially from the young star. (However, I just dislike his brawling scenes, which I found unusual for a boy of 8 years young.)

Overall, I would say this film is a "should watch", especially for locals -- to support the local film industry and to reminiscence old times.

Echoes of the Rainbow provides an autobiographical look back at 60's Hong Kong for the director. Trouble with films like this is that they will always mean more to the maker than the audience. There's a lot to appreciate, from the wonderful recreation of the 60's, the well chosen soundtrack, and a heartfelt performance from the young lead. Outside of that, it is sometimes episodic and melodramatic, but luckily never for too long. Whenever a director makes a film like this it is both uplifting and depressing. With all the memories squeezed into two hours, real or not, it's very predictable. The best parts were when it focused on the young boy, being punished at school, going to the cinema, faking autographs etc. Overall a nice film.

MOVIES often transport us to worlds of fantasy and hype. This one, however, strives for nostalgic realism, tempering yesteryear charm and familial bond with a touch of tragedy. It is not a movie for the masses but "Echoes Of The Rainbow" is a rare gem for film buffs who look for something different from the familiar fare.

It will take you back to the Sixties, at the time when Neil Armstrong walked the moon, and maybe wring a tear or two out of you...

The film is about eight-year-old Big Ears (Buzz Chung Siu To, who narrates), growing up on Wing Lee Street in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan district, where his father (Simon Yam) runs a shoe shop on one end while his uncle owns a hair salon at the opposite end. Together, they take care of their customers' top and bottom, or so they boast.

Big Ears is a spoilt brat who makes a hobby of pinching stuff, quite unlike his elder brother Desmond (singer Aarif Lee) who is both a model student and a top athlete in school. The narrative follows the adventures of the two brothers, with Desmond courting the demure Flora (Evelyn Choi) - and Big Ears wearing a fish bowl on his head, dreaming of becoming Hong Kong's first astronaut.

The first thing that grabs us is the movie's attention to detail, recreating a part of Hong Kong that vibrates with local street life and small-time enterprise. The mood of nostalgia is further enhanced by director Law Kai Yu's inclusion of catchy Sixties songs, especially those of the Monkees, that Desmond loves to listen on the transistor radio. In this world, poverty may be romanticised with the neighbourhood community gathering together for dinner but the dark side, of widespread bribe-taking and corrupt cops and nurses, is also explored.

The cast is exemplary too, with young Buzz Chung effortlessly stealing the show from Aarif Lee and even veteran Yam. Chung helps to give the film a touch of playfulness and naivete, showing us Big Ear's kiddie point of view. Lee is rather bland in his role as the 'model son' and student but Sandra Ng is in her element as the resourceful and sweet-tongued mother. I find the ending rather melodramatic and predictable. Still, it seems the only way to close the story.

This movie won the Crystal Bear Award at the 60th Berlin Film Festival for Best New Generation Film and has been nominated for six prizes at the Hong Komng Film Awards. A rare and refreshing family movie. - By LIM CHANG MOH (limchangmoh.blogspot.com)

Written and directed by Alex Law, Echoes of a Rainbow drips with nostalgia and bucket loads of sentimentality without going overboard into melodrama. It's a capture of the struggles of a working class family in 1960s Hong Kong with the constant change and hardships of society, and the story is top notch, at the surface being able to entertain, and beneath filled with intense, poignant filled moments and scenes that will tug at your heart strings. With attention paid to detail in its art department and direction, to sets and costumes, it seemed that nothing was spared in recreating scenes, moods and behaviours from the past.

And nostalgia is something which I feel that a sub section of contemporary Hong Kong cinema is currently going through, with bio-pics like Ip Man 2 providing a glimpse into the injustices suffered by the Hong Kongers then, being bullied on both the lawful, and unlawful fronts, by foreigners and triads alike. Soon to be released Gallants also captures the yesteryears of cinema in a fun filled manner, with martial arts being the order of the day, but with Echoes, this film is steeply rooted in drama, centering upon the lives of the Law family members. Special effects got effectively used to recreate things that no longer exist such as the old tram climbing up Victoria Peak overlooking a different skyline, and in a brilliant opening sequence involving a large fishbowl from which becomes the looking glass on which old Hong Kong got superimposed through a series of archival clips representative of the times.

But special effects cannot take the place of wonderful acting. Simon Yam, who also recently won the Best Actor award at the recent Hong Kong Film Awards for his role here (and the film garnering a lot more accolades as well) and Sandra Ng are two veterans who put on expert performances here, leading and paving the way for its able supporting cast to shine as well. We all know Simon exudes a sense of debonair cool in a number of gangster flicks, and Sandra is comedy queen extraordinaire. If there's anyone questioning their serious dramatic acting chops, this film will let those eat their words, and be truly flabbergasted by their nuanced performances of those from a generation past.

As head of the household, Simon's Mr Law is a cobbler and a man of few words, with business never booming and constantly struggling to make ends meet. Sandra Ng plays his more talkative wife steeped in a traditional caregiver role, in total departure from the madcap ones that we're so used to, as the mom who's always there for her two kids, played by Buzz Chung as the little Big Ears, and Aarif Lee as Desmond, their family's pride and joy for being in a famed school and its star track and field athlete. We see events unfold through the eyes of the little one, and Buzz Chung steals everyone's thunder in a role that encapsulates innocence, with that twinkle of mischief especially with his kleptomaniac ways. Newcover Aarif Lee also shines as the elder brother on whom hopes of a better life for his family hinges on, and Alex Law's narrative provides for that teenage romantic love with Evelyn Choi's Flora, who turns out to be someone from a different social class than Aarif (hey, it's a Victoria Peak address no less) which proves to be the chief obstacle for both to overcome.

And Alex Law's story packs plenty to keep you thoroughly and emotionally engaged throughout the 120 minute runtime, with subplots and themes revolving around the hardships that the working class face in that era of change, in a time steeped in corruption from all areas of society from the police to healthcare workers. I especially liked how Law primed the audience for the negative aspects of life then with the very subtle technique of mentioning how both sides of the law put pressure on legitimate businesses through the celebration of the mooncake festival, since we were treated to all things good such as the communal spirit stemming from close neighbours and relatives living on the same street ever willing to chip in, and share resources such as telephones and televisions.

The film encapsulates the look and feel, the music, and its attention to detail of the times is key to its success. There are moments big and small that just bring a smile to my face, be it the pop tunes of yesteryears, the identification of directors such as Ann Hui and others who pop up as supporting cast, or that smattering of the Shanghainese language that got retained in the dubbed version here, and some which left me heart-wrenched, such as when the family members have to band together to overcome a notorious natural disaster, and other difficulties that get thrown their way. As they say if Life gives you lemons, make lemonade, this family finds that will alone is sometimes never enough, although Mrs Law will have you believe otherwise through her earnestness in positive thinking. Don't be surprised too if you can identify with some of the moments and issues that get portrayed and brought up, and goes to show the superb storytelling craft that Alex Law had adopted to present his masterpiece.

Echoes of a Rainbow is now playing at limited screens, but please don't miss this just for the sake of watching the loudest blockbuster from Hollywood. It is the sincere films like these that need to be watched and appreciated, especially so when blessed with an excellent storyline, and with a myriad of characters all of whom you'll genuinely feel for, and be moved. This film gets my vote and is a definite shortlist to be amongst the best this year. The DVD will be out soon, which will mean a second, necessary viewing in its native Hong Kong language track. Highly recommended!

Tagline: One of the simplest yet pleasantly emotional movies of the year...

Simon Yam has finally found his ground. After years of nominations, sweats and determination, Yam has won his most wanted award – HK Best Actor. Gladly he deserved it with both hands down. A bravo display from a true veteran at work and to say this is his best ever performance cannot be departed with understatement. The scene in the gushing of wind leading to the collapse of the shoe shop, confirms to us that Yam has finally hit the right emotional buttons. Well done. Usual writer Alex Law tries his hand at directing and the result is extraordinarily.

The story is a personal one and yet portrays the time frame of Hong Kong in the 1960s so perfectly that one feels immense into the every situation. It is rare that you come out of a commercial Hong Kong film with the same subtle feelings not seen since Ann Hui's The Way We Are. Yet, this film is far more accessible, simple and yet astonishingly moving. Echoes of the Rainbow do go the route taken, but goes about it in the most effective and simplistic of manner. Led by an excellent star turn from Buzz Chung who simply chew the scenes with both cuteness and innocence, adding to a mix is perhaps a slight mis-cast in Sandra Kwan, who still manages to impress. Perhaps, Teresa Mo (Mr. Cinema) may be a more suitable candidate for the role. The expression on Buzz's face when he hears about the death is almost seamlessly touching and almost lingering. Upcoming singer, Aarif Lee also does well and the award winning performance from Simon Yam sums up the movie. Exceeds expectations and beautiful to endure.

All in all, Echoes of the Rainbow fills the heart and the soul and despite its flaws, simplicity, it works. The film is most probably best Hong Kong film of the year and comes highly recommended...(Neo 2010)

I rate it 9/10

• www.thehkneo.com

In Chinese word "Shoes are half hard, and half are good. You have to believe in it." Life is better when there are difficulties, and believe it or not, what you believe in is an intriguing topic through the ages. The film "Echoes of the Rainbow" is already a very old Hong Kong film in my impression, and the scattered ones can always leave memories of this film on the movie channel. This is already a childhood memory. When I grew up, I watched movies in china and abroad, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, but I forgot this masterpiece. Today I regain my childhood memories and read it all over again. There are many things that are worth learning and contemplating. Mrs. Luo said that "people must believe". After watching the movie, I have been thinking about what people want to believe, whether to believe in God or believe in fate. If you believe in God, will you really have no worries about food and clothing, and will not disturb you? If you believe in fate, will life really go on in the footsteps arranged by fate? What do people believe all their lives? The Mr. Luo's family is a positive image that cannot be beaten. Even after experiencing all kinds of hardships in life, they still don't give up doing their best to support this family. When the typhoon came, Lao Luo tried his best to protect the house. He kept chanting "keep the roof, keep the roof", and Brother took care of his little brother everywhere, and Mrs. Tai was also thinking about his two sons everywhere. Although a serious illness took Jin yi young life, Mr. Luo also gone a few years later. Originally a happy and happy home for four people, in the end only two people were left to stick to the roof. Perhaps Mrs. Tai believes in the arrangement of fate, and this "arrangement of fate" in her heart is that the elder son's illness will finally get better, and the family life will get better and better... The truth is cruel, and the elder's illness has not been cured. And she did not grow old with my husband. The result seemed very unsatisfactory, as if to say "this is a tragic story." But interested audiences will understand the role of "little brother" here. At the end of the story, Mrs. Luo and the younger brother saw the two rainbows what Jinyi said, and the mother took her son's hand towards the end of the story. In my opinion, this is not a tragedy. Mrs. Luo always believed that she did not believe it wrong, but the ending used another way to prove that she was right. Although she has lost her eldest son and husband, she still has a little son to accompany her. Both the little son and the eldest are played by Li Zhiyan, which also represents some spiritual sustenance. In fact, the family is still together, and it seems that they have never been separated. This is not just a family story, the family relationship is also mixed with the beauty of love. From the love between Jin Yi and Fang Fei in a young age, and the love between Lao Luo and his wife to the middle-aged, the beauty of the world is everywhere. In fact, life is not that difficult, "one step is difficult, one step is good, one step is good, one step is difficult." In times of difficulty, there will always be family members and lovers to bear with you, and in times of good, there will always be people who share the joy of happiness with you. This is life. No one can really distinguish whether life is difficult or good. The life both on it. When suffering is exhausted, it will come willingly, and when willingly comes, you must be prepared for suffering. People must believe and have faith in their hearts, and life will treat themselves kindly.

Although the film reflects Hong Kong in the 1960 s, it shows that ordinary people are struggling for life and exposing the gap between the rich and the poor in society. However, these are integrated into the daily life of ordinary people and are not expressed in a strong way. The more warm and optimistic the daily life of ordinary citizens is, the more they can show the difficulty of life and the indifference of reality. The film narrative is plain and simple, but it shows true feelings everywhere

It took me a long time to see the Time Thief. The thief of time is good, but it is still inferior to the sun and moon around Tianshui. After all, the traces deliberately carved by the time thief are too heavy, while the sun and moon around Tianshuiwei truly achieve a subtle and natural moistening effect, yet contain even more silent tension. But as two outstanding Hong Kong films, Time Thief also bears a sense of mission for the revival of Hong Kong cinema.

Everyone has a memory stolen by time. Tears streamed down my face, but I didn't feel any emotional excitement at all. The pace may be slow, but it is not trivial. I really like Li Zhiting's performance. This touching moment came incredibly naturally, truly, and simply. Difficult step, better step. One step is difficult, one step is better. With such parents, don't we have a reason to see two rainbows appearing in the sky at the same time.

I hadn't seen the 2010 Hong Kong movie "Echoes of the Rainbow" (aka "Sui yuet san tau") before now in 2020. I was given the opportunity to sit down and watch the movie, so of course I did so, given my admiration of the Asian cinema.

The storyline told in the movie was rather good and had a good progress and pacing to it. Writer and director Alex Law managed to put together a wholesome and entertaining movie that actually had a good punchline to it and proved to be more than just a run-of-the-mill movie.

"Echoes of the Rainbow" has a rather good ensemble of actors and actresses on the cast list, which includes the likes of Simon Yam, Sandra Kwan Yue Ng and Paul Chun - all three are some you should be familiar with if you have an interest in the Hong Kong cinema.

I enjoyed watching this movie, and was genuinely entertained. I am rating "Echoes of the Rainbow" a six out of ten stars.