July Rhapsody


July Rhapsody is a 2002 Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and produced by Ann Hui and Derek Yee. This was Anita Mui's final film appearance before her death from cervical cancer in 2003.

Overview

The film's Chinese title literally translates to Man, 40. Its alternative title is Laam yan sei sap. The film explores midlife crisis, marriage, and teacher-student seduction.

Plot

Lam Yiu-kwok, a Hong Kong secondary school teacher, is facing a midlife crisis, marriage problems, and seduction by a student. He and his wife Man-ching are married, living in a modest apartment with their two sons. However, his first son Ang is not his, but actually of his wife and Mr. Shing, their former teacher. When Man-ching was a student, she seduced Mr. Shing, resulting in her pregnancy with Ang. As a teacher, Yiu-kwok does not have financial success like his friends, successful businessmen and professionals who flaunt their extravagant lifestyles at reunion dinners. Mr. Shing returns to Hong Kong. Mr. Shing is old and dying and Man-ching feels obliged to spend time with her ex-lover. In school, Yiu-kwok receives flirtatious attention from Choi-lam, a student from his class who has a crush on him. Yiu-kwok's resistance to his raunchy student's advances begins to weaken.

Cast

  • Jacky Cheung as Lam Yiu-kwok
  • *Otto Wu as Young Lam Yiu-kwok
  • Anita Mui as Chan Man-ching
  • *Cara Chu as Young Chan Man-ching
  • Karena Lam as Woo Choi-lam
  • Shaun Tam as Lam On-yin
  • *Ricky Kwok as Infant Lam On-yin
  • Eric Kot as Wong Yui
  • Tou Chung-hua as Shing Sai-nin
  • Jin Hui as Lam Lui-yin
  • Leung Tin as Principal Leung
  • Race Wong as Mrs. Mak
  • Ku Tin-nung as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • Roddy Wong as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • Jason Yip as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • Simon Li as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • Raymond Yu as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • James Cheng as Yiu-kwok's former classmate
  • 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