''The Drive of Life'' () is a 2007 grand production drama by
TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and ...
and
CCTV as a joint production. It was specially filmed to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of
the handover
Sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the China, People's Republic of China (PRC) at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the British Hong Kong, former colony. Hong Kong was establ ...
of
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...
back to
China from
Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
during the period of 1997-2007.
The theme of the series revolves around the
automobile industry in China
The automotive industry in China has been the largest in the world measured by automobile unit production since 2008. Since 2009, annual production of automobiles in China accounted for more than 32% of worldwide vehicle production, exceeding b ...
. Told in flashback from 1994, the ups and downs and transformations that Hong Kong has been experiencing before and after the
transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
Sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China (PRC) at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony. Hong Kong was established as a special admini ...
is used as a narrative device. The series was filmed in Hong Kong,
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
,
Ningbo
Ningbo (; Ningbonese: ''gnin² poq⁷'' , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly romanized as Ningpo, is a major sub-provincial city in northeast Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises 6 urban districts, 2 sate ...
and
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
from early October 2006 until May 2007. The automobiles featured in the series are from
Geely Automobile
Geely Auto is the primary car marque of Chinese group Geely. Listed as Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and controlled through holdings in Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, Geely Auto is ZGH's mainstream brand primarily s ...
,
[BlogGang.com](_blank)
/ref> as a fictional brand name "Hua-Zhe". This stars " TVB Best Actress" winners Charmaine Sheh
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man (; born 28 May 1975) is a Hong Kong actress. After winning second runner-up in the 1997 Miss Hong Kong pageant, Sheh signed a contract with TVB in 1998. She is best known for her roles in ''Return of the Cuckoo'' (2000 ...
, Jessica Hsuan
Jessica Hester Hsuan (; PA: syn hyn, also known as Suen Huen, is a Hong Kong actress.
Early life
Hsuan's father gave her the name Jessica, while her mother gave her the middle name Hester. She was educated in Hong Kong at Maryknoll Convent S ...
, Myolie Wu
Myolie Wu Hang-yee (born 6 November 1979) is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is previously managed by Hong Kong TVB television station and Neway Star. In 2011, she won Best Actress for her role in '' Curse of the Royal Harem'', Most Favou ...
and Sheren Tang
Sheren Tang Shui-man (born 2 March 1966) is a Hong Kong actress. She is best known for her roles in the mega-hit Hong Kong TVB drama series '' War and Beauty'', as well as '' La Femme Desperado'', '' The Family Link'', '' Rosy Business'' and '' ...
who won their respective "Best Actress" awards in 2006/2014, 1999, 2011, and 2009/2010.
Astro On Demand
Astro On Demand (Simplified as Astro AOD) is a Cantonese-language drama TV channel service co-established by TVB and Astro. It features the latest TVB drama series and broadcasts the same time as the origin channel.
The channel was officiall ...
, Astro
Astro may refer to:
Entertainment and media
* Astro (South Korean band), a South Korean boy band
* Astro (UB40) (1957–2021), member of the British reggae band UB40
* Astro (Chilean band), a Chilean indie rock band
* Astro (Japanese band), ...
's video on demand
Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos without a traditional video playback device and the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. In the 20th century, broadcasting in the form of ...
service, starts with the series premiere.
Synopsis
Wah Man-hon, Wah Man-hung and Wah Man-shek were all born in Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. As a result of the massive political upheaval and the profound misunderstanding among them, the three brothers have fallen out and now live separately in Hong Kong, Beijing and Vancouver respectively.
Man-hon's business goes down the pan in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis
The Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East Asia and Southeast Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion. However, the recovery in 1998– ...
. The only saving grace is that members of the Wah family from around the world, including Man-hon's son Wah Chun-bong and Hung's son Wah Chun-man, can finally put their prejudice aside and become reconciled with one another. To realize the century-old dream of the family, they decide to work together to develop the local automobile industry.
After ten years of struggle, the Wahs have established its own brand of automobile – a brand the whole Chinese nation is proud of. They make a significant and ongoing contribution to China's automobile industry for they believe that only cars of our own will take us to a better future.
Cast
Main cast
Wah family
Ng family
Wing family
Fong family
Other cast
Wah Git Automobile Corporation (Hua-Zhe)
* Jason Chan as Chai Hoi
*Bruce Li
Bruce Li (; born Ho Chung-tao; 5 June 1950) is a Taiwanese actor, martial artist and Bruce Lee imitator who starred in martial arts films from the Bruceploitation movement.
Career
He went to play a stuntman in Taiwan and Hong Kong under the na ...
as Po Gam
*Henry Lo as Jung Dung
*Felix Lok
Felix Lok Ying-kwan is a Hong Kong actor. His television appearances include roles in ''Looking Back in Anger'', '' The Drive of Life'' and '' The Academy''.
Filmography
Television series
Films
*''Heroes of the Underground'' (1976)
*''The Hap ...
as Chan Jen Cheung
*Ellesmere Choi
Ellesmere Choi Chi-kin (; born 28 December 1968) is a Hong Kong television actor for TVB. He attended TVB's training classes in 1993.
Filmography
TV series
*''A Great Way to Care'' (2011)
*''In the Eye of the Beholder'' (2010)
*'' His True Fath ...
as Ng Zhi-ming
*Reyan Yan as So San
*Ng Wai-shan as Ka Ling
*Anita Kwan as Siu Man
*Koo Ming-wa as Lo Hon
*Anita Kwan as Siu Man
*Adam Ip as employee
*Martin Tong as employee
*Jason Lam as employee
*Steven Ho as employee
*Candy Cheung as employee
*Pauline Chow as employee
*Jim Tang as employee
*Wong Wai-tak as Matthew
*Gregory Charles Rivers as R&D group leader
*Tsang Wai-wan as researcher
*Wong Ka-yi as secretary
*Wilson Tsui
Kwok Wai Steel Corporation
*Kwong Chor-fai
*Kong Hon
*Joe Junior
Joe Junior (born Jose Maria Rodrigues Jr.) is a Hong Kong English pop singer from Macau who as active during the 1960s. He has since been in a number of TVB drama series in the 1990s and 2000s playing older character roles. He has regularly ap ...
*Simon Lo
*Kwok Tak-shun
*Lee Hoi-sang
*Leo Tsang
*Chu Wai-tak
*Tsui Wing
*Siu Chuen-yung as Ho Kin
Sirius International Investment Corporation
*Rocky Cheng as Rocky
*Rachel Kan as Ngai Tin-hang's secretary
Bedding & Pillow Company
*So Yun-chi as Mrs Cheung
*Law Ho-kai as Mr Go
Canada & associates
*Ko Jun-man as Mr Kwan
*Lee Gong-lung as Mr Chan
*Billy Lam as detective
*Lee Cheung-dou as Yuen Yiu-wai
*Chan On-ying as Mrs Yuen
*Joseph Yeung as psychologist
Others
* Michael Wong as Wai Lun
*Zhao Ke as Lee Seen-sin
*Angela Tong as Chi Chi
*Leanne Li as Bo Wai
*Deno Cheung as Lam Leung
*Matthew Ko
*Vivien Yeo as Carman
*Annie Chung as car fan
*Yeung Ying-wai as Peter
* Henry Lee as bank executive
*Cheng Ka-sang as Tai Tung Tat garage worker
*Patrick Dunn as Lee Kai-fat
*Ha Ping as Wah family's great aunty (ep22)
*Yu Tze-ming as Wong Cheung
*Lau Tin-lung as reporter
*Meini Cheung Meini is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Beatrice Meini (born 1968), Italian mathematician
*Ettore Meini (1903–1961), Italian bicycle racer
*Mario Meini
Mario Meini (born 17 November 1946) is an Italian ordinary ...
as Kong Man
*Leung Kin Ping as Mr Ma (ep32)
*Chin Kar-lok
Chin Ka-lok, sometimes credited as Chin Kar-lok ( Chinese: 錢嘉樂, Pinyin: Qián Jiālè, born 6 August 1965), is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, and television presenter.
Chin was born in Hong Kong, the younger brother of actor ...
as Chan Ka-lok (ep33-35)
*Jo Jo as Cho Hung (ep35)
*Tammy Ho
*Siu Cheuk-hiu as Mr Cheung
*Lee Tsi-kei as Muk Chuen
*Ng Man-sang as interpreter
*Winnie Shum
*Jacky Yeung
*Chan Yu-hei
*Ho Jun-hin as stock broker
*Kwok Fung as Sung Hok-li
*Lee Fung
*Law Kwan-chor
*Candy Cheung
*Peter Pang as jockey club staff
*Lee Kai-kit as doctor
*Wong Kei-sen as a signature specialist
*Helena Wong
Theme song
;The Sky is Blue (天這樣藍)
:*Lyrics: Sandy Chang
:*Composition and Arrangement: Joseph Koo
Joseph Koo Kar-Fai, MBE, GBS (born 3 February 1933), is a Hong Kong composer, who is considered one of the most respected composers in Hong Kong. He used the pen name Moran (莫然) for Mandarin songs early in his career.
Early life
Koo h ...
:*Performance: Hacken Lee
Lee Hak Kan (; born 6 December 1967), better known as Hacken Lee, is a Hong Kong singer, television host and actor, active from the 1980s until today. In 2013, Lee's song "House of Cards" swept multiple awards in many Hong Kong award ceremonies, in ...
and Steve Chou
Viewership ratings
Awards and nominations
40th TVB Anniversary Awards (2007)
*"Best Drama"
*"Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Damian Lau
Damian Lau Chung-yan (born 14 October 1949) is a Hong Kong film and television actor, executive producer and film director. Lau has starred in many television drama series of various genres, produced by Hong Kong's TVB and ATV.
Biography
...
) Top 5
*"Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Michael Miu
Michael Miu Kiu-wai ( 苗僑偉) (born 18 June 1958) is a Hong Kong actor and businessman. His career has been met with popular success in his youth, followed by a resurgence in middle age after a period of hiatus. He is considered one of the most ...
)
*"Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Raymond Lam
Raymond Lam (; Jyutping: lam4 fung1; born 8 December 1979) is a Hong Kong actor and singer who is best known for roles in the television dramas ''A Step into the Past'', ''Twin of Brothers'', '' Moonlight Resonance'', '' Highs and Lows'' and '' Lin ...
) Top 5
*"Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (Ng Wai-kwok) Top 5
*"Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Gigi Wong) Top 5
*"Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Toby Leung
Toby Leung Ching-kei ( Chinese: 梁靖琪, born 27 February 1983) is Cantopop singer and actress from Hong Kong. She entered the music industry in 2004 when the MusicNationGroup discovered her talent. Together with Macy Chan, Elise Liu (廖 ...
)
*"My Favourite Male Character Role" (Damian Lau)
*"My Favourite Male Character Role" (Michael Miu)
*"My Favourite Male Character Role" (Ng Wai-kwok)
*"My Favourite Male Character Role" ( Joe Ma)
References
External links
TVB.com
''The Drive of Life'' - Official Website
CCTV Official Site
''The Drive of Life''
K for TVB.net
''The Drive of Life'' - Episodic Synopsis and Screen Captures
Can Success be Measured with Money? A Look at the 'Drive' of Life
''Episode Analysis''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drive of Life
TVB dramas
2007 Hong Kong television series debuts
2007 Hong Kong television series endings