Mama's Affair (2022 film)

Mama's Affair (Chinese: 阿媽有咗第二個) is a 2022 Hong Kong drama film written and directed by Kearen Pang. Starring Teresa Mo, Keung To, Jer Lau, Kaki Sham and Tang Lai Ying, the film follows a former talent manager and housewife, who discovers a new star, then she finds it difficult to balance her family and her career life. The film had its world premiere at 17th Osaka Asian Film Festival in competition section on 12 March 2022, and was released on 11 August 2022 in Hong Kong.[4]

Mama's Affair
Promotional poster
Traditional Chinese阿媽有咗第二個
Simplified Chinese阿媽有咗第二個
Literal meaningMother Has a Second One
Hanyu PinyinĀ mā yǒu zuo dì èr gè
Directed byKearen Pang
Written byKearen Pang
Produced by
Starring
Production
companies
  • Emperor Film
  • Film Development Fund
Distributed byEmperor Film
Release date
  • 11 August 2022 (2022-08-11)
Running time
127 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguagesCantonese
English
Korean
BudgetHK$10 million (US$1.29 million)[1]
Box officeest. HK$40.18 million (US$5.17 million)[2][3]

The film was invited to 21st New York Asian Film Festival, where it had its New York premiere on 26 July.[5]

Produced with a budget of HK$10 million (US$1.29 million), the film has grossed HK$40.18 million (US$5.17 million) as of 9 November 2022 and currently it is the fourth highest-grossing, Hong Kong-produced film of 2022.[2]

Synopsis

As Yu Mei Fung, housewife and former top artiste manager, discovers a new star in Fong Ching, she also draws jealousy from her teenage son Jonathan Lo Tsz Hin. A single mother struggles to find balance between her family and her career. (From New York Asian Film Festival)[6]

Cast
  • Teresa Mo as Yu Mei Fung
  • Keung To as Fong Ching
  • Jer Lau as Jonathan Lo Tsz Hin
  • Kaki Sham as Ka Kei
  • Tang Lai Ying as Ann
  • CY Chan as Tim

Production

Mama's Affair marks the film debut of Mirror members Keung To and Jer Lau.[7][8]

The film was shot in and around Yau Ma Tei, Wing Fat Tea restaurant and Canton Road, which is full of street signs, as the background to illustrate the daily life of Fang Qing (Keung To) as a delivery boy of the tea restaurant, to give Hong Kong-style feelings.[9]

Wah Yan College, Hong Kong was hired for filming.[10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at 17th Osaka Asian Film Festival in competition section on 12 March 2022.[11] In June 2022, it was invited to the 2022 Taipei Film Festival in Asian Prism section and was screened on 26 June.[12] It was also invited at the 21st New York Asian Film Festival, where it was screened at Lincoln center on July 26 for its New York Premier.[5][13] It was theatrically released on 11 August 2022 in Hong Kong.[14]

Trinity Cine Asia acquired rights for distribution of the film in the United Kingdom. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 19 August[15]

Reception

Box office

The film opened with HK$1.7 million, which is a record for Chinese-language films in Hong Kong in 2022.[16]

As of 25 September 2022 the film is the fourth highest-grossing, Hong Kong-produced film released in the year 2022 with gross of HK$37,110,797.[2]

Critical response

Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post classed the film "a minor gem" and rated it with 3.5 out of 5 stars. Appreciating it, Lee wrote, "there are so many moments of authentic humour and emotion throughout Pang’s meticulously scripted story that Mama’s Affair must be recognised as a rare commercial product that nevertheless manages to stay true to its filmmaker’s artistic sensitivity."[4] Casey Chong writing in Screen HK rated the film with 3.5 out of 5 stars and praising the performances of star cast wrote, "It [the film] certainly has its few worthwhile moments and so do the aforementioned great acting performances, which still made Mama’s Affair a decent experience.[17] Phuong Le of The Guardian rated the film with 2 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Teresa Mo’s measured performance, in spite of the cliche-ridden dialogue, is the real highlight of a film that is otherwise an empty star vehicle best enjoyed by fans."[18] James Luxford, the City A.M.'s film editor commented the film "While not a classic of Hong Kong cinema, Mama’s Affair does just enough to keep both sides of the age gap entertained, with warm family values moving in sync with pop hits".[19]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2023 Hong Kong Film Award Best Actress Teresa Mo Nominated [20][21]
Best Supporting Actor Law Wing-cheung Nominated
Best New Performer Jer Lau Nominated
Best Original Film Song "Forever"
Composer：Alan Wong Ngai Lun, Janet Yung Wai Ying
Lyricist：Chan Wing Him
Vocal Artist：Keung To		 Nominated

References
  1. "電影發展基金融資製作電影《阿媽有咗第二個》本地首映" [The Film Development Fund financed the production of the film "Ama Has A Second" to premiere locally]. Info.gov.hk (in Chinese). 10 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  2. "Hong Kong Weekly Box Office: 19 - 25 September 2022 Box Office". HKTDC (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  3. "Mama's Affair (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.
  4. Edmund Lee (10 August 2022). "Mama's Affair movie review: Mirror members Keung To, Jer Lau make impressive acting debuts in heart-warming drama by writer-director Kearen Pang". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. Michael Rosser (30 June 2022). "New York Asian Film Festival reveals Screen honourees and full line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. "New York Asian Film Festival — Mama's Affair — 阿媽有咗第二個". NYAFF. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. "處男作入選芝加哥電影節 姜濤會飛美出席？" [Jiang Tao's debut film was selected for the Chicago Film Festival. Will Fei Mei attend?]. am730 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 10 March 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  8. Thomas Kong (10 August 2022). "阿媽有咗第二個｜姜濤、柳應廷Jer 首部主演電影 與毛姐大演對手戲" [Grandma has a second one | Jiang Tao, Liu Yingting Jer's first starring film and sister Mao starring in the opposite play]. Esquire HK (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  9. "毛舜筠Jer住酒店培養「母子」感情 姜濤懷念拍戲做外賣仔感覺" [Mao Shunjun Jer stayed in the hotel to cultivate the relationship of "mother and son" Jiang Tao misses the feeling of being a takeaway boy]. Bastillepost (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 4 July 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. "A Beautiful Campus with a Rich History".
  11. "Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022, Mama's Affair - 阿媽有咗第二個". Osaka Asian Film Festival 2022. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  12. "Taipei Film Festival 2022, Mama's Affair - 阿媽有咗第二個". Taipei Film Festival. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  13. "New York Asian Film Festival 2022, Mama's Affair - 阿媽有咗第二個". Film at Lincoln Center. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. Shackleton, Liz (15 August 2022). "'Mama's Affair', Hong Kong Family Drama Starring Mirror Members Keung To & Jer Lau, To Release In The UK". Deadline. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  15. "Mama's Affair". Trinity Cine Asia. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  16. "《阿媽有咗第二個》開畫170萬稱冠 姜濤成功追擊《闔家辣》？" ["Grandma Has A Second" opened with 1.7 million and won the title. Jiang Tao successfully pursued "Family Spicy"?]. HK 01. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. Casey Chong (12 August 2022). "Mama's Affair 阿媽有咗第二個 (2022) Review". Screen HK. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  18. Le, Phuong (16 August 2022). "Mama's Affair review - star vehicle for Cantopop idols Mirror is for boyband fans only". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  19. "Mama's Affair: There's more to this Hong Kong comedy than Cantopop stars Keung to and Jer Lau". 19 August 2022.
  20. Soriano, Jainne (9 February 2023). "Hong Kong Film Awards 2023: Here is the full list of nominees". Lifestyle Asia. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  21. "Nomination List of The 41st Hong Kong Film Awards". Hong Kong Film Awards. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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