Watch Summer Snow

Summer Snow is a touching and heartfelt drama from 1995 that explores the bonds of family, the power of love, and the resilience of the human spirit. The film follows the Wu family, a working-class clan living in Hong Kong, who are hit with a series of devastating setbacks that threaten to tear them apart. The family patriarch, Mr. Wu (Law Kar-Ying), is a hardworking and devoted father who has sacrificed his own dreams to provide for his wife (Josephine Siao) and their three children: 20-year-old daughter Winnie (Flora Cheung), 17-year-old son Sam (Allen Ting), and 10-year-old daughter Bing (Sit Lap-Yee). Despite struggling to make ends meet, the family is close-knit and happy, with a strong bond that has kept them together through tough times.

However, everything changes when Mr. Wu is diagnosed with lung cancer and given only a few months to live. The news hits the family hard, as they struggle to come to terms with the imminent loss of their beloved father and provider. Mrs. Wu takes over as the breadwinner, working long hours as a garment factory seamstress to support the family, while Winnie drops out of school to take care of her father at home. Sam, meanwhile, begins to rebel against his father's strict expectations, getting into fights at school and hanging around with a bad crowd.

As Mr. Wu's condition worsens, the family faces even more challenges. They struggle to come up with the money for his medical bills, and Winnie begins to feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for him. Meanwhile, Bing feels neglected and lonely, and Mrs. Wu becomes increasingly distant as she tries to cope with her grief.

Throughout it all, the family is buoyed by their love for one another, as well as the support of their friends and neighbors. They learn to lean on each other and rely on their own strengths, even as they face the hard realities of loss and adversity. The film is a poignant and moving portrayal of the power of family, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of cherishing the time we have with loved ones.

Josephine Siao delivers a standout performance as Mrs. Wu, imbuing her character with a quiet strength and determination. Kar-Ying Law is equally impressive as Mr. Wu, capturing his character's fierce love for his family and his struggle to accept his fate. Allen Ting gives a convincing portrayal of a rebellious teenager, while Flora Cheung is a standout as Winnie, the responsible and compassionate eldest child.

Director Ann Hui has crafted a beautifully nuanced and emotionally resonant film that blends moments of heartbreak with moments of joy and humor. The film is shot with a sense of intimacy and warmth, capturing the subtle nuances of family relationships and the small moments that make life worth living.

Overall, Summer Snow is a touching and powerful film that speaks to the universal themes of family, love, and loss. It is a testament to the human spirit and the power of resilience, and a reminder to cherish the time we have with those we love.