[2025.03.11] CECILIA YIP AND GARDNER TSE HAVE A "MUTUAL NEGLECT" CONNECTION

Cecilia Yip feels very happy to be able to make a movie from a woman's perspective
courtesy of singtao.com

Cecilia Yip Tung and Gardner Tse Kwan Ho (Brother Ho) co-starred in the movie TRUE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (CHIN CHIN SHUI YUET) as a couple whose marriage broke down. The two worked together for the first time in a movie. Best Actor Brother Ho got the cold shoulder from the two time Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress Yip Tung, because Yip Tung was already in character long ago. Brother Ho did not dare to lack off and brought his "game" immediately. Brother Ho joked that running into an acting maniac like Ceci was really very fun! Ceci praised the new film as relatable like personal experience, feeling that the film would be able to withstand the test of time.

TRUE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (CHIN CHIN SHUI YUET) was adapted from the novel "It's Over, It's Fate". In the film, Ceci and her childhood sweetheart Brother Ho eventually became married and had a pair of children; but her husband's cheating led to the breakdown of her marriage, and when her ex-husband later became terminally ill she still took care of her and adhered to her belief in true love. The author of the novel is Xie Shufen, one of the film's producers and screenwriters, which was also her personal experience. Making her own story into a movie, Xie Shufen said that there would always be some people and things in everyone's mind that would always be remembered, "I was worried that one day I would forget my deceased ex-husband, so I had the idea of making a movie to catch his happy and unhappy life highlights!!"

Ceci and Brother Ho collaborated on the stage play SHANGHAI BLUES as early as the 90s of the last century, and also co-starred in a TV series and played Hui Sin's parents. They did not perform together. This was the first time they have collaborated in a movie. Brother Ho laughed and said, "It feels so good, Ceci is a good actor. She is so focused that she ignores me. The scene is about our relationship had some minor issues. The neglect really came at the right time. Great, even so I am here! Actors had to play like this to have fun, they really were drama fanatics!" Yip Tung fought to explain what was "being neglected". "The reason is Brother Ho's time is limited, he had to shoot as soon as he came!" Brother Ho also explained, "I was in so many units, the location had to be returned after awhile. Whenever we went to shoot at a hospital, it was different!" Yip Tung joked, "When I want you to pay attention to me, you don't. You are so vengeful!" Brother Ho clarified again, "At the time I was sick (in the plot), it's just a mistake like this. The movie is also interesting, and I felt it was so interesting when I went back, not deliberately."

Brother Ho feels that he and Ceci definitely have a chemical reaction in the movie, "Writing a women's scene, two big men Chan Gor (producer) and the director collided to set off spark and realistically tell the story. They would not dwell at some sad scenes, there would always be some withdrawals to make the scene richer like the scene where the food stall played the music of 'Love in the Snow'. It would not romanticize one thing, everything was so real. There are joys and sorrows, there are beautiful and ugly, this scene smashed out a chemical reaction and hit it well, I feel it's very entertaining to watch." Ceci agreed that movies were very lifelike, every scene seemed to be related to herself as if it was a personal experience, no matter the environment, the conversation between the children and the husband would be very similar to life, and it was easy to invest in it during the shoot.

This time they shot a real person and a real story, not to mention that it was the story of the boss's wife. Would they feel any pressure? Ceci laughed and said that the boss lady would not supervise the scene, and only came to the set to shake hands and introduce herself when she was close to the end of filming. Through the book she read, she already had a little concept in her heart. "Who would be so stubborn that he wanted to shoot her own story. That character of never admitting defeat and must fulfill her dream was very Hong Kong women, not tender but very independent and self reliant. It would also scare off many people. I held on to this personality, during the performance through his text to interpret his feeling. So I don't feel it would be difficult."

The whole movie was shot with a mobile phone, which Brother Ho said that he felt quite fresh. Although he would be a little unaccustomed to the performance at the beginning and he would look for where the camera was, slowly he would not find for the camera but only the life in the film. He also pointed out that mobile phone productions also brought convenience. Many tricky angles like in the narrow environment of the tram, the mobile phone with a selfie stick could do it. However would the actress be concerned about her appearance, as the mobile phone would not be as detailed as the camera? Ceci said with a smile, "I'm not a greedy actor, I'm really filming for the sake of filming. Fortunately I have experience as actors, because the shooting progress with a mobile phone was much faster. On one hand I had to turn in the home work and provide material, so it all depended on years of experience."

Brother Ho bluntly said that in the first few shots of the production he had doubts about whether the result will be achieved, but Ceci believed that doubts were doubts. "It's impossible for me to keep questioning whether the shooting is good or not, whether it is beautiful or not. My responsibility is to render the feelings of a scene in the most realistic way." Brother Ho felt that the results of this production were very textured and real. In addition to coordinating with their experienced actors, some special contract and even non- professional actors were all very compatible. On the other hand sometimes in front of the big camera the performance would not be well. This time really had a sense of life. Ceci said that the movie subject could be presented in this way because it is like shooting a video at home, but it did not mean that mobile phones would be able to replace traditional shooting methods.

TRUE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE applied for this year's Hong Kong Films Awards but unfortunately did not receive any nomination. Some veteran filmmakers have seen Yip Tung's performance, describing her as the gem that this year's Hong Kong Film Awards missed. With her delicate performance she should be included among the "Best Actress" nominees, Yip Tung heard it and gratefully said, "Thank you for the appreciation, but I don't make movies for award. I am very happy to have such reviews, it's a bonus!" Since Brother Ho and Ceci were already Best Actor and Best Actress, would they feel that winning the award was an encouragement and they would rather choose good roles to satisfy their acting bugs? Brother Hao smiled and asked, "Do I have to choose one of the two? People are greedy so of course they want both, no one will mind having more!"

Ceci also said, "Our movie is indeed relatively alternative, just like the Chinese title of the film "Shallow Years" it tells a light story. It does not deliberately create an atmosphere, does not deliberately talk about the relationship between men and women, and the characters are not good and evil. It is a refreshing genre, so special. I am already very happy to have the opportunity to play this role. A film from a female perspective in Hong Kong film, with a good co-star and a generous boss lady, it has been an unforgettable experience." As for whether to win the award or not, Ceci thought that people might not have adapted to this direction. "Maybe two years later everyone will see it and feel differently, but it will be able to stand the test of time because it is so close to everyone's life." Brother Ho had another opinion. "The film seems to be light, but actually isn't light. It is about the biggest thing in life -- life and death. Nothing is bigger than life and death; it is more dramatic than family problems, but we choose to use a not so dramatic way to express it. It is realistically rendered, I myself feel it so deeply, the relationship between husband and wife is worth reflecting on. I would reflect on it again after watching it; in the movie I am on top of the business world, but once I get sick I have nothing. I was like a little kid, going for a twin popsicle and taking the tram to find memories; which touched me a little!"

Brother Ho and Ceci were originally born in the same month of the same year, both had March birthdays. They both showed chemistry and chatted freely during the interview. Would they look forward to the next collaboration? Ceci smiled and said, "It depends on Brother Ho's schedule!" Brother Ho joked, "No way, her birthday wish is to work with me. My birthday wish is the same! May your birthday wish come true!" Yip Tung smiled and thanked him, "Just as you say!"

The Fruit Chan Gor produced new film TRUE LOVE, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE paired up Yip Tung and Tse Kwan Ho. Chan Gor said that the story was adapted from real people and real events, and said that the casting required professional actors. Otherwise achieving the meticulous emotions in the film would be difficult. Everyone immediately thought of Yip Tung and Tse Kwan Ho, and everyone clicked right away. Yip Tung smiled and pointed out that Chan Gor's works have always been hardcore and often experimental. This time he was willing to shoot a women film, which she thought was a very special attempt. "I am very happy after receiving the script. Now very few movies are willing to shoot from the perspective of a woman's mentality. This performance relies on acting skills, as it has to display some plain and solid emotions. Sometimes I want to display them using drama, which would have the chance of performing excessively. (Have you been reminded to hold back a little?) There were one or two scenes I had to, especially the divorce scene. The emotions at that time had been brewing inside for many years and broke out all at once, but the producer told me to hold back and hold back some more. I did again and again. I had to make adjustments, and then I felt that he adjusted correctly; otherwise I don't know how explosive I would have been."

Was she reminded of how she got along with her husband during the shoot? Yip Tung said with a smile: "When filming I would more or less think of myself in reality. I think everyone has thought about whether their partner is faithful to themselves, I am no exception and have thought about this problem. The character will argue with her husband, we would argue too. I would be very mad at him for often staying silent. Sometimes I would think that start arguing would be even better. This might be the difference between men and women. Actually what is the woman mad about? She is mad at you staying silent and preventing nothing has happened."