''July Rhapsody'' () is a 2002 Hong Kong

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Ann Hui Ann Hui On-wah, (; born 23 May 1947) is a film director, producer, screenwriter and actress from Hong Kong who is one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers of the Hong Kong New Wave. She is known for her films about social issues in Ho ...

and produced by

and

Derek Yee Derek Yee Tung-sing () is a film producer, director and a former Shaw Brothers actor from Hong Kong. Early life Yee was born Yee Tung-sing in Hong Kong on 28 December 1957, the son of Yee Kwong (爾光), a film producer from Tientsin (Tianjin), ...

Overview

The film's Chinese title literally translates to Man, 40. Its alternative title is Laam yan sei sap. The film explores

midlife crisis A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 40 to 60 years old. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's grow ...

marriage Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

, and teacher-student seduction.

Plot

Lam Yiu-kwok (

Jacky Cheung Jacky Cheung Hok-yau (born 10 July 1961) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. Dubbed the " God of Songs", he is regarded as one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong pop music. Cheung is known for his technically skilled vocals, lengthy tours, and ...

), a

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 ...

secondary school teacher, is facing a

mid-life crisis A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 40 to 60 years old. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's grow ...

, marriage problems, and seduction by a student. He and his wife Man-ching (

Anita Mui Anita Mui Yim-fong (; 10 October 1963 – 30 December 2003) was a Hong Kong singer and actress who made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout her career, and i ...

) are married, living in a modest apartment with their two sons. However, his first son Yue (Eric Kot) is not his, but from his wife and Mr. Seng (Tou Chung Hua), their former teacher. When Man-ching was a student, she seduced Mr. Seng, her teacher. As a teacher, Lam Yiu-kwok does not have financial success like his friends, successful businessmen and professionals who flaunt their extravagant lifestyles at reunion dinners. Lam Yiu-kwok's wife's ex-lover Mr. Seng returns to Hong Kong. Mr. Seng is old and dying and she is obliged to spend time with her ex-lover. In school, Lam Yiu-kwok receives flirtatious attention from Choi-lam (

Karena Lam Karena Lam (; born 17 August 1978) is a Taiwanese Canadian actress and singer based in Hong Kong. In 2015, she won the Best Actress award at the Golden Horse Awards for her role in ''Zinnia Flower'', making her the first person ever to have won ...

), a student from his class who has a crush on him. Lam Yiu-kwok's resistance from his raunchy student begins to weaken.

Cast

as Lam Yiu-kwok **Otto Wu as Young Lam Yiu-kwok *

as Chan Man-ching. This was

's final film appearance before her death from cervical cancer in 2003. **Cara Chu as Young Chan Man-ching *

as Woo Choi-lam * Shaun Tam as Lam On-yin **Ricky Kwok as Infant Lam On-yin *

Eric Kot Eric Kot Man-fai is a Hong Kong singer and actor who studied in California and is the second youngest of three brothers. He formed a comedic music duo with fellow DJ and comedian Jan Lamb called Softhard in the 1980s. He also runs a fashion s ...

as Wong Yui * Tou Chung-hua as Sheng Sai-nin * Jin Hui as Lam Lui-yin * Leung Tin as Principal Leung *

Race Wong Race Wong is a Singaporean actress, singer and businesswoman. She was one of the former Hong Kong cantopop duo singer group 2R alongside her elder sister Rosanne Wong. Professional background Born in Malaysia, raised in Singapore, she pursued ...

as Mrs. Mak * Ku Tin-nung as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * Roddy Wong as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * Jason Yip as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * Simon Li as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * Raymond Yu as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * James Cheng as Yiu-kwok's alumnus * Yu Sai-tang as Cho * Alan Wong as Cho's son * Wong Yuet-ling as Waiter * Chan Kui-fai as P.E. teacher * Lee Yiu-tong as Teacher * Ng Ka-leung as Teacher * Law Wai-yee as Teacher * Li Chui-yee as Teacher * Fok Bo as Teacher * Tony Lui as Teacher * Chan Kin-shun as Teacher * Nakata Yuki as Japanese girl * Chow Au-ming as Old man * Lau Miu-ling as Filipino maid * Lee Tung-yung as Mainland female doctor * Cheung Lai-kwan as Tramp in tunnel * Jonathan Lam * Ho Tsz-kit * Carson Fan * William Ho * Roy Lau * Jason Lee * Levan Mak * Courtney Wu as Father * Ko Tin Lung

Awards and nominations

References

External links