The Way We Are (M+ Screenings: The Film Life of Ann Hui)

High-school student Cheung (Leung Chun-lung) lives with his mother Guai (Paw Hee-ching) in a public housing estate in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong. Cheung is sitting for an important public exam; Guai works in a supermarket. Their lives seem mundane but are deeply fulfilling. An elderly woman, Leung (Chan Lai-wan), has just moved to Tin Shui Wai. She lives alone and finds a job at the supermarket, where she crosses paths with Guai. Ann Hui’s straightforward, meticulous portrayal of life turns the limitations of low-budget digital cinematography into a unique style. The film was extremely well received and signalled an important point in Ann Hui’s later career.