Watch A Simple Life For Free

Disapointment

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A simple life tells us a story of a housemaid' last year of her life. The heroine of the film, named Tao, had been a housemaid in Andy' family for the last 60 years. She came to Andy's house when she was 16 years old , she grew up with Andy's mother and the growing up of Andy was before her very eyes. She served Andy with great care including cooking dinner, washing clothes, cleaning the room as well as feeding a cat. At the first shot of the movie, Tao was going across a crowed and noisy outdoor market to buy fishes for dinner, she picked up the goods so carefully that the shopkeeper seemed impatient. When she came home, she prepared a big meal for Andy. Ai night, Tao was always standing in the balcony waiting for Andy, therefore every time Andy came home, she would see the warm yellow light on the second floor, then Tao would serve the food for Andy .That is almost everything Tao will do in her daily life. However, one time Andy saw the yellow light when he came back but he could not open the door. He yelled loudly, hoping Tao would hear him, but finally he realized something was wrong with Tao. Tao suffered a stroke and could hardly walk without the walking stick. Andy was wondering to find a new housemaid to take care of her while Tao insisted to live in the nursery using her own money. Tao came into the nursery, and Andy couldn't get used to the life without Tao, he realized how important Tao was. Tao was already the number of his family from the bottom of her heart, Tao was even more intimate than his mother. He began to company Tao with unprecedented love and patient until her death. The whole story is really flat and slow, you can hardly find any ups and downs. Even when it comes the death, it seems so natural. But it still has a big power to move audiences, because so many little details in the film are likely happening in everyone's daily life. At the end, we all have to face the fear of death ,and at that time, all we need is love and company. In this film, wo can see so clearly the grand love in small person, it's pure and selfless.

How to write about simple movie? And how tell about simple life? How to live such life? Perhaps the answer to these questions lie exactly here. But first, it takes strength and courage to overcome yourself, your self-esteem, dreams and ambitions. It takes curiosity and thirst for life.The film comes into our minds easily and quickly shows us the power of being, of being born with the fate of being a human being in its overall appearance. Shows how quickly are changing the roles of young and old, it shows what should be the relationship between people, always. It shows where is the spring of goodness and that it is there because "You have to be at rest first with yourself before helping others"... with unabated good that enjoys anyone to whom it touches. That everyone accepts as a given, but feels the pain of its loss.How nice it is when our deepest desires are so simple. When we are truly, picky, but because we are looking for soul mates. How nice it is to experience the happiness of loving relatives, to know your place and perhaps, most importantly, not cheating in first place - not cheating yourself.http://vihrenmitevmovies.blogspot.com/

This has got to be one of the best films I seen this year. It's simply sensational, heartfelt and touching in every way. I can't see how anyone would call this movie pretentious. It's down to earth and nothing seems to be forced, even when it comes to bringing out the emotions. And it's far from being a cookie cutter or cardboard bonding film either. Instead it goes in a very realistic and believable direction but also wonderful at the same time. If anyone that view this film at least has a heart, I don't see how it can be viewed just completely negatively. Some might find a film like this boring, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. And felt that this film actually gave me something to take with me when it was finished. It brings out the harshness and coldness of humanity, especially for the older people out there. But it also brings out a sense of warmth as well and above all hope. The plot revolves around a bond between Roger Leung(Andy Lau) a film producer who is picky and stuck-up and a servant that has been a maid for his family for multiple generations. And is played by Deanie Ip, this is probably my first time seeing Deanie Ip's performance and she is breathtaking. I could really believe the love, the tenderness and affection from the character. I wouldn't be surprised if she is like the Maryl Streep of China. I just wanted to reach out and give her a big hug. This film deserves every award it gets. And it's no wonder this was noted as one of the best films at the festival. It's a film that some people will experience at least somewhat in the future or already have. While watching this compelling and even inspiring film, I had a chance to reflect upon myself and my life a few times. Thus actually managed to take somethings from this film. It's a simple film with a lot of heart to it. Authentic emotions and relationships. Highly recommended to just about any viewers that has a heart. This film is also inspired by a true story and it's moving in every way. Looking forward to seeing Ann Hui's other works now. Beware though, it's a film that might stick with the audiences for weeks or even more. Although some might think it's too subtle and realistic for their taste, will at least take away something from the experience. This is a meaningful and worthwhile film, that gives a bit of a reflection on bonds, relationships and life.9.7/10

Those who have watched "The way we are" (2008) will know exactly what to expect from today's Ann Hui – films that are delightfully free of sappy melodrama. In that film we share the ordinary, everyday life of several sibling-linked families, some more affluent but not really rich, others less fortunate but not quite on poverty line. There is no manipulation of the audience's emotions, but towards the end, there is one scene in which the affluent uncle (played beautifully by KO Chi-shum), hitherto quite typically no-nonsense business-like (although there is no sign of his looking down on poor relatives), matter-of-factly said to his bright sister-son something to the effect of "Don't worry if your exam results are not good enough to get you into university here. We (he and another uncle) will finance your university education abroad. That's the least we can do to reciprocate how your mother looked after us when we were small". The very casual way he said this is enough to bring a lump to your throat."A simple life" rings true in the same way – genuine emotion does not need melodramatic manipulation.As the last of a trilogy loosely, thematically linked ("my model of experimentation", said director Ann Hui) with the aforementioned and "The post-modern life of my aunt" (2006), "A simple life" is based on producer Roger Lee's true story with domestic maid Tao who had been part of his life from day one, and became a default mother when his entire family emigrated to the US. In the film, Deannie Yip and Andy Lau are pitch-perfect as Tao and Roger, drawing from their numerous previous screen corroborations as mother and son. In an interview with Time Out, Hong Kong, director Ann Hui also intimated that on the process of aging, she has deep personal experience with her own mother. In the film, Roger took Tao to a premiere of a film he produced, but Hui said she had second thoughts about doing the same with her mother, fearing that the reaction might be "Are you giving me hints? (about putting her in an old folks' home)" Starting with Tao going to an old folks' home and ending at her natural death at old age, the simple story is simply told, with surprisingly gentle humour. Through inevitable vicissitudes, human goodness and compassion surface. There are some eccentric characters and flawed human nature to various degrees, but no real villains. As in "The way we are" the warmth that brims over always brings a lump to your throat, such as Tao at the old folks' home receiving a call from Roger and friends at a card game, thinking of her – middle-aged men that she had know since they were little kids."A simple life" is a film that is true to life. An added bonus to local viewers is a delightful proliferation of cameos from household names in the Hong Kong cinematic scene.