A House of Happiness

Facing stiff competition from international releases in the lucrative Chinese New Year screening slot, local movie A House of Happiness has received great reviews from local movie enthusiasts and has grossed more than RM1mil at the Malaysian box office after only a week of release. The heart-warming movie is the debut effort of director JY Teng together with prolific local filmmaker Ryon Lee (Show Me Your Love, The Dream Boyz, My Papa Rich, Seventh) and is the first full-length feature film by local Chinese radio station 988.

A House of Happiness was shot in the Batu Arang Heritage Town in Gombak District, Selangor, well-known as a bustling coal mining town more than 100 years ago. The cast is led by veteran Hong Kong comedian Richard Ng and Ipoh-born Hong Kong-based comedian Mimi Chu.

Richard Ng has more than 80 films under his belt and was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards twice. He is best known for his role as one of the five “Lucky Stars” alongside Sammo Hung, Charlie Chin, Stanley Fung and John Shum, in the hit Lucky Stars 1980s film trilogy – Winners And Sinners, My Lucky Stars and Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars.

The cast include Malaysian actors Steve Yap, Lim Ching Miau, Thian Siew Kim, Louisa Chong, Ong Tee Chuan, and 988 deejays Chan Fong, Cheryl Lee, Sam Mak, Hau Min, Anson Kow, Jason Poon, Cassey Soo, Cynthia Tan, Sean Lee, Piao Min and Danny One.

A House of Happiness

Bad-tempered Uncle Shui suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and thinks his wife Summer is dead, and his son Liong Gor is working in the city. His long-suffering wife Ha Gu lives with him and takes care of him but she leaves him when she cannot stand his bad temper any longer. Without Ha by his side, Shui falls for Fang (Louisa Chong) who reminds him of Summer. Fang is only after Shui’s money. The neighbours seek help from Ha’s son Liong Gor to persuade her to return.

I quite enjoyed the movie and find the acting by Richard Ng and Mimi Chu particularly outstanding. The movie is in Cantonese and that spoils my enjoyment a bit as I don’t understand Cantonese and have to keep on looking at the sub-titles.

Here is the official trailer for the movie: