Forty-year-old woman Plot introduction Free mobile movies

Chinese Name: Woman, Forty

English Name: Summer Snow

Release Date: November 2, 1995

Director: Ann Hui

Cast: Josephine Siao, Roy Chao, Koon-Lan Law, Allen Ting, Ping Ha

Region: Hong Kong

Introduction:

The film "Woman, Forty" plainly narrates the story of middle-aged women in today's Hong Kong under dual pressures from their careers and families. They face various conflicts such as the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, the transition between old and new traditions, and inflation. To make matters worse, they encounter the unavoidable issue of elderly care that affects countless families. This serious and quite troubling topic is portrayed with ample humor and charm without relying on misunderstandings or coincidences for comedic effect, which is indeed very challenging.

Josephine Siao portrays the protagonist, Ah-Eo, who takes on all the household chores and cares for everyone in the family. When she collapses from exhaustion, all she asks for is "Let me sleep," how "greatly tragic"! However, what she does consists entirely of trivial tasks that are often overlooked. Yet, these trivialities are presented in the film with such vividness and tight pacing: when she is frantically helping her father-in-law take a bath, the phone keeps ringing non-stop. She remains alert despite her busy hands, quickly shouting for her son to answer it. After two unsuccessful calls, she rushes to answer it herself, only to find out that her son is crying because he has been through a breakup. Instantly, Ah-Eo transforms from a "daughter-in-law" into a "mother": consoling her son and sharing her dating experiences. Josephine Siao's crisp and practiced movements let the audience feel the tension and busyness of her daily life. Her performance style is calm and natural, effortlessly revealing the character’s essence. Such an act can only be fully realized with an excellent script. The screenplay for "Woman, Forty" is robust; it lacks convoluted or bizarre plots but is rich in life scenarios. Josephine Siao's humor stems from the wit in her character, carrying a profound charm that seems understated yet captivating and full of tension. From the moment Ah-Eo makes her first appearance, her personality shines brightly. First, there is a close-up shot of Josephine Siao staring intently with wide eyes, creating suspense among the audience: What has happened? In the following medium shot, the audience realizes she is at a fish stall, carefully selecting a live fish. She has been standing there for a long time, waiting for the fish swimming on its back to die so she can get it at a much cheaper price. But when the fishmonger urges her and tells her that the fish cannot be waited for any longer, and upon weighing it, it costs 150 HKD while if dead it would cost only 50 HKD, the fishmonger says, “It’s not dead yet!” Seizing the opportunity when someone calls the fishmonger to take a phone call and turns away, Josephine Siao swiftly strikes the fish on its head, killing it. This spontaneous action was not in the script but was improvised by Siao, perfectly capturing the character's shrewdness, patience, and tenacity, as well as showcasing her agility and efficiency. Through just this one scene, the character comes alive with depth and substance.