An generous and fiercely independent woman (Deanne Yip) has worked for the same family through four generations and six decades. Currently in the service of a young filmmaker (Andy Lau) she has raised since birth, she suffers a debilitating stroke and is forced into assisted living where her young master finds the opportunity to repay his family's debt. Ann Hui's A Simple Life is a poignantly observant and exceedingly well made drama that actually earns the cliched praise of heartfelt. Deanne Yip generates great empathy in her role, and the cast and filmmakers elevate this picture to levels you wouldn't expect from reading the plot line on the back of the DVD case.
