However, I hold dearly the director's humanist sensibilities felt in almost every scene. For example, Lau Ching-wan's obnoxious behaviour in his first scene is offset by a camera track that expresses the solitude of this character. Then, there is the scene of the idiot and the worldly gal in the grassy meadow, using butterflies to evoke the romance of the 'Butterfly Lovers'. Or the annual ritual with the smelly tofu. The simplicity of these scenes reveal an honesty and beauty that is rarely seen in Hong Kong movies.
Rarity increases the value of things, thus making for a pleasant experience.
The movie offers nothing new. However, the film is so watchable and enjoyable that one doesn't bother with originality. The actors plunge into their roles so fervently that they appear to be playing themselves. Yet another film where the cast and crew went all out to make a sincere, well-meaning movie but, unable to clamber out of the mainstream production models of Hong Kong cinema, came up with an embarrassment. The plot and tone of the movie changes tack at a moment's notice, leaving the viewer astray.