| Anna Magdalena | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Yee Chung Man |
| Produced by | Claudie Chung Chun (executive producer) Golden Harvest[1] United Filmmakers Organization (UFO)[1] |
| Written by | Ivy Ho |
| Starring | Kelly Chen Takeshi Kaneshiro Aaron Kwok |
| Music by | Chiu Tsang-Hei[2][3] |
| Cinematography | Peter Pau |
| Editing by | Maurice Lee Ming-man[2] |
| Release date(s) | 1998 |
| Running time | 98 min[4] |
| Country |  Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
Anna Magdalena (traditional Chinese: 安娜瑪德蓮娜) is a 1998 Hong Kong film starring Kelly Chen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Aaron Kwok. It was the directorial debut of production designer Yee Chung-Man.
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Title
The title refers to the keyboard piece Minuet in G Major believed to have been written by Johann Sebastian Bach's colleague, Christian Petzold, from the 1725 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach[2]. Anna Magdalena was Bach's second wife. The music attracts the attention of Chan Kar-fu and Yau Muk-yan as Kelly Chen's character plays it on her piano. The film score uses this theme repeatedly.
Synopsis
The film structure loosely follows that of the minuet: four "movements", which are announced by titles: two themes, a duet, and a set of variations[2]. 1- Chan Kar-fu's (Takeshi Kaneshiro) introduction 2- Yau Muk-yan's (Aaron Kwok) effect on his life 3- Mok Man-Yee's (Kelly Chen) effect on their lives 4- Chan Kar-fu's literary vision of love.[5] This fourth "movement" (Variations) is a wild fantasy on the previous material, based on the novel written by Kaneshiro's character: The XO Pair[3].
Unemployed aspiring writer Yau Muk-yan (Aaron Kwok) moves into the apartment of Chan Kar-fu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a shy piano tuner. Both will soon fall in love with their new neighbor Mok Man-Yee (Kelly Chen).
Cast includes
- Kelly Chen - Mok Man-Yee
- Takeshi Kaneshiro - Chan Kar-fu
- Aaron Kwok - Yau Muk-yan
- Jacky Cheung - Policeman
- Leslie Cheung - Editor
- Anita Yuen - Assistant Editor
- Josie Ho - Cindy, Yau Muk-yan's former girlfriend
- Leo Ku - Client in restaurant (cameo)
- Eric Tsang - Building watchman (cameo)
- Wei Wei - White-haired piano teacher
- Chung Chun
Filming locations
Reception
The film grossed 7.8 million HK$ in Hong Kong.[4]
It was nominated at the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards[3]:
- Nominated - Best Cinematography (Peter Pau Tak-Hei)
- Nominated - Best Art Direction (Poon Chi-Wai)
- Nominated - Best Costume Design (Ng Lei-Lo)
- Nominated - Best Original Score (Chiu Tsang-Hei)
1999 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: "Film of Merit"
See also
References
- ^ a b Allmovie
- ^ a b c d e chinesecinemas.org
- ^ a b c lovehkfilm
- ^ a b hkcinemagic
- ^ dragonsdenuk
External links
- hkcinemagic entry (includes trailers)
- lovehkfilm entry
- chinesecinemas.org entry (detailed review)
- dragonsdenuk (includes several pictures of the movie)
- Russian film review (includes pictures)
- brns entry (more pictures)
- Soundtrack listing
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