Watch Golden Chicken

Golden Chicken is a heartwarming, bittersweet comedy-drama film that tells the story of a middle-aged prostitute named Kum (Sandra Kwan Yue Ng) who has been working at a Hong Kong brothel for over two decades. Through her eyes, we witness the ups and downs of Hong Kong's economy from the 1970s to the turn of the 21st century and the effect it has on the people of Hong Kong.

The film's opening scene introduces us to Kum, who narrates her life story to the camera while getting ready for work. She recalls her childhood as a street vendor, her first experience with prostitution, and her long-standing relationship with the Peking duck vendor, Fate (Eric Tsang), who provides a recurring sense of stability throughout her life.

The film also features several notable cameos, including Jackie Chan and Maggie Cheung, who play themselves in a hilarious and surreal sequence set in the brothel where Kum works.

Despite the often bleak subject matter, Golden Chicken is a deeply human film that explores themes of love, loss, and the inherent interconnectedness of people's lives. Kum's story is not just her own, but the story of Hong Kong as a whole, and the way that its inhabitants have been shaped by the city's tumultuous history and economic development over the years.

One of the standout performances in the film is Eason Chan, who plays various characters throughout the film in a series of vignettes that showcase his remarkable acting range. From a shy soda jerk to a cynical nightclub singer, Chan brings to life a variety of complex and nuanced characters, each with their own struggles and joys.

All of the actors in Golden Chicken deliver top-notch performances, but it is Sandra Kwan Yue Ng who truly shines as Kum. Ng's nuanced and empathetic performance makes Kum feel like a real person, rather than just a stock character in a comedy-drama. As we follow Kum's journey throughout the film, we see her grow and change in profound ways, and Ng's performance makes every step of that journey feel authentic and emotionally resonant.

The film's cinematography is also worth mentioning, as it captures the bustling energy and neon-lit beauty of Hong Kong in a way that feels both nostalgic and immediate. From the streets of Kowloon to the towering skyscrapers of Central, Golden Chicken immerses the viewer in the sights and sounds of Hong Kong, evoking a sense of place that is essential to the film's overall impact.

Ultimately, Golden Chicken is a deeply moving film that manages to blend comedy and drama in a way that is both entertaining and emotionally impactful. It is a film that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and the enduring power of love and connection in a rapidly changing world.