Love After Love (2020 film)

Love After Love
Film poster
Traditional Chinese第一爐香
Simplified Chinese第一炉香
Hanyu PinyinDì yī lú xiāng
Directed byAnn Hui
Written byWang Anyi
Based onAloeswood Incense: The First Brazier
by Eileen Chang
Produced byAnn Hui
StarringMa Sichun
Faye Yu
Eddie Peng
Chang Chun-ning
Fan Wei
CinematographyChristopher Doyle
Edited byKwong Chi-leung
Mary Stephen
Music byRyuichi Sakamoto
Production
companies
Alibaba Pictures
Blue Bird Film
HeHe Pictures
Distributed byFortissimo Films
Release dates
Running time
144 minutes[1]
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Box office¥64 million[2][3]

Love After Love (Chinese: 第一炉香) is a 2020 Chinese romantic drama film directed by Ann Hui, and starring Ma Sichun, Faye Yu, Eddie Peng, Chang Chun-ning and Fan Wei. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2020.[4][5] It was released theatrically in China on October 22, 2021.[6]

The film marked the third time Hui directed an Eileen Chang adaptation (following 1984's Love In A Fallen City and 1997's Eighteen Springs). It is an adaption of Chang's novella Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier,[7] a sprawling love story set in 1940s Hong Kong.[8][9]

Synopsis

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Set in Hong Kong shortly before the Second World War, Ge Weilong (Sandra Ma) plays a young girl who travels from Shanghai to Hong Kong in pursuit of education, but ends up working for her aunt seducing rich and powerful men.

Cast

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Music

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The film's soundtrack was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.[10]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 8, 2020.[11] It also screened at the 25th Busan International Film Festival on October 23, 2020,[12][13] and at the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival on October 31, 2020.[14]

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Category Recipient Results Ref(s)
2022 40th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Cinematography Christopher Doyle, Kubbie Tsoi Nominated [15]
Best Art Direction Zhao Hai Nominated
Best Costume Make Up Design Emi Wada Nominated
Best Original Film Score Ryuichi Sakamoto Won

References

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  1. ^ "第一炉香 (豆瓣)". douban. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Love After Love - Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "创许鞍华作品新低,5.6分的《第一炉香》错在哪?". 1905电影网. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  4. ^ "Venice 2020 preview: Screen's guide to the Out Of Competition titles". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "'Love After Love' ('Di Yu Lu Xiang'): Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "许鞍华新片《第一炉香》定档10.22 马思纯彭于晏演绎张爱玲笔下爱情故事". Sohu News. 2021-09-22. Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  7. ^ Clare (2011-01-17). "Review: Love in a Fallen City". The Literary Omnivore. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  8. ^ "'Love After Love': Venice Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong: Ann Hui on "Love After Love"". MUBI. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Lo, Zabrina. "Ann Hui's New Film 'Love After Love' is Finally Screening in Hong Kong". Tatler Asia. Archived from the original on 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  11. ^ "Biennale Cinema 2020 - Di yi lu xiang (Love After Love)". Venice Film Festival. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Ann Hui's "Love After Love" Selected for Gala Presentation at BIFF". Haps Korea. October 7, 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Ann Hui's LOVE AFTER LOVE Selected for Gala Presentation at Busan International Film Festival". Vimooz. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Schedule for 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival(2020) (Love After Love)". Tokyo International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  15. ^ "Nomination List of The 40th Hong Kong Film Awards". Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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