The Drive of Life
The Drive of Life is a 2007 grand production drama by TVB and CCTV as a joint production. It was specially filmed to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong back to China from Britain during the period of 1997-2007.
The theme of the series revolves around the automobile industry in China. Told in flashback from 1994, the ups and downs and transformations that Hong Kong has been experiencing before and after the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong is used as a narrative device. The series was filmed in Hong Kong, Beijing, Ningbo and Vancouver from early October 2006 until May 2007. The automobiles featured in the series are from Geely Automobile, as a fictional brand name "Hua-Zhe". This stars "TVB Best Actress" winners Charmaine Sheh, Jessica Hsuan, Myolie Wu and Sheren Tang who won their respective "Best Actress" awards in 2006/2014, 1999, 2011, and 2009/2010.
Astro On Demand, Astro's video on demand service, starts with the series premiere.
Synopsis
Wah Man-hon, Wah Man-hung and Wah Man-shek were all born in Beijing. 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 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| Cast | Role | Description |
| Damian Lau | Wah Man-hon 華文翰 | Age 52 to 65 Wah Ching-yu and Wah Chun-bong's father. Hui Chaam-yan's husband. Wah Man-hung and Wah Man-sek's elder brother. |
| Gigi Wong | Hui Chaam-yan 許湛恩 | Age 47 to 60 Wah Ching-yu and Wah Chun-bong's mother.Wah Man-hon's wife |
| Jessica Hsuan | Wah Ching-yu 華清瑜 | Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's daughter Ngai Wing-biu's girlfriend later wife Wah Chun-bong's elder sister |
| Raymond Lam | Wah Chun-bong 華振邦 | Age 27 to 40 Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's son Fong Bing-yi's ex-boyfriend. Wing Sau-fung's boyfriend later husband Wah Ching-yu's younger brother |
| Liao Jingsheng | Wah Man-hung 華文鴻 | Age 48 to 60 |
| Feng Shaofeng | Wah Chun-man 華振民 | Age 24 to 37 Fong Bin-yi's husband |
| Michael Miu | Wah Man-sek 華文碩 | Age 42 to 55 |
| Sheren Tang | Wang Siu-fun 汪紹芬 | Age 38 to 51 |
| Toby Leung | Wah Ching-lam 華清琳 | Age 18 to 31 |
| Lau Kong | Wang Ching-kwok 汪政國 | Age 65 |
| Power Chan | Wang Siu-leung 汪紹良 | Age 34 to 47 |
Ng family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Benz Hui | Ngai Ling-tai 危令泰 | |
| Mary Hon | Lo Ho-yuet 盧皓月 | |
| Joe Ma | Ngai Wing-biu 危永標 | Age 27 to 40 |
| Ron Ng | Ngai Gai-keung 危介強 | Age 20 to 33 |
| Lawrence Ng Wai-kwok | Ngai Tin-hang 危天行 | Age 44 to 54 |
Wing family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Wong Chik-sam | Wing Sau-fung's father | |
| Maggie Chan | Wai Cheung-ping 衞長萍 | Age 47 to 53 |
| Charmaine Sheh | Wing Sau-fung 榮秀風 | Age 26 to 39 |
Fong family
| Cast | Role | Description |
| Lai Suen | Ching Tai-tie 錢帶娣 | |
| Lee Kwok-lun | Fong Yiu-chong 方耀忠 | |
| Myolie Wu | Fong Bing-yi 方秉怡 | Age 24 to 37 |
| Jeffrey Wong | - |
Other cast
Hua-Zhe Automobiles
- Jason Chan as Chai Hoi
- Bruce Li as Po Gam
- Henry Lo as Jung Dung
- Felix Lok as Chan Jen Cheung
- Ellesmere Choi 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
- Wong Wai-tak as Matthew
- Tsang Wai-wan as researcher
- Wong Ka-yi as secretary
- Gregory Rivers as R&D group leader
- 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
- Wilson Tsui as employee
Kwok Wai Steel
- Kwong Chor-fai
- Kong Hon
- Joe Junior
- Simon Lo
- Kwok Tak-shun
- Lee Hoi-sang
- Leo Tsang
- Chu Wai-tak
- Tsui Wing
- Siu Chuen-yung as Ho Kin
Sirius Investment
- 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
Canadian 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
- Yu Tze-ming as Wong Cheung
- Lau Tin-lung as reporter
- Meini Cheung as Kong Man
- Leung Kin Ping as Mr Ma
- Chin Kar-lok as Chan Ka-lok
- Jo Jo as Cho Hung
- 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
Viewership ratings
Awards and nominations
40th TVB Anniversary Awards- "Best Drama"
- "Best Actor in a Leading Role" Top 5
- "Best Actor in a Leading Role"
- "Best Actor in a Leading Role" Top 5
- "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" Top 5
- "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" Top 5
- "Best Actress in a Supporting Role"
- "My Favourite Male Character Role"
- "My Favourite Male Character Role"
- "My Favourite Male Character Role"
- "My Favourite Male Character Role"