My Prince Edward

My Prince Edward (Chinese: 金都; Jyutping: Gam1 dou1) is a 2019 Hong Kong film directed by Norris Wong in her directional debut. It starred Stephy Tang and Chu Pak-hong, who portrayed a pair of lovers experiencing challenges as they prepare to step into marriage. The Chinese and English titles allude to Golden Plaza in Prince Edward, a wedding-themed shopping mall. The film was the winner of 4th First Feature Film Initiative and received funding from the Film Development Fund.

My Prince Edward
Film poster
金都
Directed byNorris Wong
Produced by
  • Chan Hing-ka
  • O Sing-pui
Written byNorris Wong
Starring
Music byEman Lam
CinematographyAlfred Pong
Edited by
Distributed byGolden Scene
Release date
  • 17 November 2019 (2019-11-17) (HKAFF)
  • 11 June 2020 (2020-06-11) (Hong Kong)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese
BudgetHK$ 3.25 million (Film Development Fund)

Plot

Cheung Lei-fong 'Fong', who works in a bridal gown rental shop in Golden Plaza, Prince Edward, is in the 8th year of her relationship with Edward Yan, who runs his business as a wedding photographer in the same shopping mall. They are renting a flat above the mall. Despite their plan to move out of the area, Edward's mother negotiates with the owner about buying the flat, much to Fong's dismay, but Edward simply shrugs it off.

Fong learns that the marriage certificate of a divorcee bears a remark and begins to worry about her past. Ten years ago, when she severed ties with her parents, she was introduced by her friend Yee to an agent and entered a sham marriage marriage with a mainlander. The next day, she is told by marriage registration office that she is still legally married to Yang Shuwei, whom she has little memory about, as the agent failed to file for divorce on her behalf. At a loss of what to do, Fong attempts to seek help from Yee, only to be led to a public proposal party. Before Fong can respond, Edward puts the engagement ring on her finger. She declines to hold a wedding banquet for fear that her secret will be exposed.

Fong posts a tracing notice for Yang on a newspaper and he finally shows up. He agrees to jointly file for divorce, which will take immediate effect, only if Fong helps him in applying for a One-way Permit, which will allow him to apply for emigration to New York City. Fong would rather wait for unilateral divorce to take effect, but her plan is frustrated as Edward's mother decides to hold a grand banquet the next year. Left with no alternatives, Fong agrees to fake daily life photos with Yang and Yang thrusts a pile of cash into her hands. Yang notices Edward constantly bombards Fong with instant messages and questions her decision to give up her freedom.

Edward discovers a copy of her marriage record in her handbag and furiously questions her. Fong confesses to her past and expresses deep regrets. The pair has a brief fight but quickly makes up. The next morning, Fong has to travel to Fuzhou for a face-to-face interview, which Edward attempts to stop but in vain. She meets Yang's girlfriend and overhears that she is pregnant, forcing Yang to rethink his migration plan. Keeping mobile data switched off during her journey, Fong returns to Hong Kong but her attitude towards Edward has changed.

One day, a message from Yang triggers the most serious quarrel between them, with Fong disclosing for the first time her dissatisfaction about the wedding arrangements and his mother's intervention. Having abandoned his migration plan, Yang is willing to file for divorce immediately. Fong resigns from her job to get ready for her new life. However, when she returns home, she finds her turtle was released by her future mother-in-law. She rushes to a nearby pond in an attempt to recover her turtle, and complains to Edward about the loss of freedom. Edward lovingly assures her they will remain the way they have been.

Early next morning, Fong leaves Edward a sticky note as a reminder of his bad habit and boards a bus to Fuzhou, where she returns the cash to Yang. When she switches on mobile data, she ignores Edward's messages and orders a long table of her own choice.

Cast
  • Stephy Tang as Cheung Lei-fong 'Fong'
  • Chu Pak-hong as Edward Yan Chun-wing
  • Jin Kai-jie as Yang Shuwei
  • Nina Paw as Edward's mother
  • Eman Lam as Yee

Production

Norris Wong is a resident of Allied Plaza, right opposite to Golden Plaza, and set the story in the area where she grew up. Wong won the 4th First Feature Film Initiative (Higher Education Institutions Group) with My Prince Edward in 2018.[1] With shoestring budget, the filming of an important quarrel scene ran overtime, but Stephy Tang volunteered to act without extra pay.[2] After working on a 110-minute version by Peter Chung, Wong sought opinion from William Chang, who did the final cut himself.[2]

Release

My Prince Edward was the closing film of 2019 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. [3]The film was scheduled for public release in mid-April 2020, but was postponed to June as cinemas were closed due to coronavirus disease.[4] Cheng Cheng Films has bought the distribution rights in North America. [5]

Awards and nominations
Award Category Recipients Result
56th Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading ActorChu Pak-hongNominated
Best Original Film Song"My Prince Edward"Nominated
Best New DirectorNorris WongNominated
26th Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardBest DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayWon
Best FilmMy Prince EdwardNominated
Films of MeritWon
Best ActorChu Pak-hongNominated
Best ActressStephy TangNominated
12th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild AwardsBest New DirectorNorris WongWon
3rd The Kongest Film AwardsPanel's Choice for the Kongest FilmMy Prince EdwardNominated
My Favourite FilmNominated
Kongest ActorChu Pak-hongNominated
Kongest ActressStephy TangNominated
Kongest DirectorNorris WongWon
39th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ScreenplayNominated
Best New DirectorWon
Best ActorChu Pak-hongNominated
Best ActressStephy TangNominated
Best Supporting ActressNina PawNominated
Best EditingWilliam Chang, Peter ChungNominated
Best Original Film ScoreEman LamWon
Best Original Film Song"My Prince Edward"Nominated
2020 Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild AwardsRecommended CharacterEdwardNominated
Recommended ScreenplayNorris WongNominated
2020 "I Support Hong Kong Film" AwardsMost Supported ActressStephy TangNominated
Most Supported ActorChu Pak-hongNominated
Most Supported Supporting ActressNina PawWon


References
  1. "【靠政府資助講「自由」】《金都》導演黃綺琳：如果佢搞我個劇本，我寧願要自由". Next Magazine. 2020-05-27.
  2. "專訪《金都》導演黃綺琳：拋開大齡女子的社會枷鎖，獻給香港女性的溫柔". The News Lens. 2020-05-08.
  3. "My Prince Edward". HKAFF - Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.
  4. "Coronavirus: Three Hong Kong Film Award nominees postpone their releases". Strait Times. 2020-02-14.
  5. "Cheng Cheng Films brings Hong Kong's My Prince Edward to North America". Asian Movie Pulse. 2020-02-14.
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