Tomorrow is Another Day 黃金花 (2017) - Hong Kong
Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)
Veteran actress Teresa Mo won the 2018 Hong Kong Film Awards, best actress for this film and rightly deserves the accords. Mental illness and autistic issues are given the focus for first time director Chan Tai Lee (credits include Ip Man films screenwriting) produces an ambitious and well meaning film even if it does goes a bit over the top towards the end. The underprivileged of Hong Kong are often hidden from society and normal daily lives, it’s the families that usually take it the hardest. Relationships are already difficult to build and maintain, it becomes harder as your child remains dependent on you for the rest of their lives. The stress, internal turmoil and everything that goes with dealing with the situations can destroy even the best of marriages, affairs and worst case of murder and deaths.
Teresa Mo is simply stunning to watch as she transform from ordinary middle aged mother buying fish in the wet market into a raging fume of jealousy as she comes to terms with her own husband’s infidelity and the internal demons of having to take care of their autistic child for life. It shows that if you put any one to go through the same situations can literally make the saneness insane. Ray Lui as the cheating father is done with a level of innocence and trying to put the stress as an excuse for his wrongdoing. Lui is suitably restrained and calm which makes the performance more convincing. Ling Man Lung does an admirably and believable job as the authentic son in the middle of everything involved. However, the main villain and home wrecker in the form of Bonnie Xian is a tad too one dimensional as we do not see both sides of the story.
All in all, Director Chan attempts to do too much and the 3rd act becomes more like a dream-like sequence rather than illusion of reality. Whilst the first 2/3 of the film remains extremely grounded and realistic both in storyline and acting wise. More can be dwell on particularly with Bonnie Xian and Ray Lui relationship which seems far too superficial than a worthy mistress relationship. Still, there is a lot to enjoy and appreciate about this film as it shows the hidden difficulties of the carers, the stress and the relationships between all characters. Teresa Mo continues to impress and deservedly take a bow. Ling Man Lung is definitely one to watch for the future.
I rated it 8/10