Cong jin yihou

Whenever I talk about my reasoning for making the art that I do, I always say that the goal is to make people feel seen, telling stories that resonate so deeply with other people they light up something inside. That's the kind of art that has always moved me, made me feel understood, and inspired me to create the same for others. Watching "All Shall Be Well" hit me with that rush of connection.

Last Monday, I walked into the theater, intrigued only by the synopsis of "All Shall Be Well," a film about Angie and Pat, a butch/femme lesbian couple in their 60s from Hong Kong who have built a lifetime of memories together, supported by friends and family. The plot takes a sudden turn when Pat unexpectedly passes away, leaving Angie unprotected legally and financially, especially in a place where their union goes unrecognized.

Initially, I was skeptical, tired of narratives where lesbian characters face tragic ends. However, the film's deep dive into the complexities of unrecognized same-sex unions, paired with the raw realities of aging and loss, swiftly pulled me in.

This movie cuts deep into why the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is far from over. Sometimes, living in my carefully created bubble, I forget that. I might briefly think, "Things aren't that bad, right?" But then reality hits, and this film slams that home. It shows just how tough things still are for a lot of queer people, and my heart broke over and over for Angie. It's a brutal reminder that so so many LGBTQ+ people still face this reality and will continue to for probably a long time.

There's also something in how the film captures family dynamics, reminding me a lot of "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies". The focus on family and relationships felt really authentic and added another layer to why this film felt so real and touching. This cultural lens was so effective that I found myself comparing the film to "Happiest Season," a 2020 lesbian rom-com. Despite the different genres and themes, both films center on a lesbian couple and included family as a significant role, illustrating the distinct dynamics of Asian families compared to their Western counterparts.

It is a heartbreaking but necessary watch.

Angie and Pat have been together for decades, and just hosted a mid-autumn festival dinner for Pat's biological family, who is less financially secure than Pat. The younger generation speak fondly of "Auntie Angie".

However, when Pat passes away in her sleep, Pat's family considers Angie to be just "a friend", ranking lower than family, overrides her wishes, and gradually pushes her out. Their lawyer friend points out all Pat's errors of omission. Refusing to sign a will (Pat is thinking of starting a new business in fashion retail, rather than acknowledging the possibility of death), executorship defaults to Pat's brother. Not leaving written funeral instructions means that the biological family takes charge. Not getting married abroad means that Angie has no moral standing, and not the little legal standing that such a paper could provide. Having the apartment only in Pat's name means Angie has no claim. The best Angie can do is to claim a dependency allowance from the estate.

As Angie loses battle after battle, it is her chosen family who provides emotional support.

This is allegedly based on real-life events, and shows the problems of not being prepared. Films with this theme showed up in North America a decade or two ago, but the problems mostly ended when same-sex marriage became legal. This is a reminder that the fight for rights still has to continue, but, before rights are established, care should be taken about legal issues.

A sudden passing of a lesbian partner forces her surviving lover to face the true stance of her partner's family members. Against the backdrop of constricted Hong Kong, the movie will make you feel what the protagonist is going through as she is slowly cornered and pushed aside by her partner's family members. A trailblazer for Asian queer cinema, "All Shall Be Well" artfully encompasses age-old and generally unresolved issues of LGBT familial recognition and rightful possessions. Ray Yeung story-telling movingly guides us through the poignant drama that unfolds the realities of human duality. This latest directorial effort proves to be the best of his works by far.

They say that "blood is thicker than water," an observation that can manifest in many ways. This often becomes most apparent during times of crisis, such as when a death occurs or an inheritance is involved (money being on the line frequently speaks volumes). So it is in the fourth feature outing from writer-director Ray Yeung, which tells the touching story of long-tenured same-sex couple Angie (Patra Au) and Pat (Maggie Li Lin Lin), a duo very much in love. They've lived in the same Hong Kong apartment for 30 years and have enjoyed reasonably good relations with their relatives, most notably Pat's extended family. However, when Pat unexpectedly dies, matters become complicated, particularly when it comes to recognizing Angie's status and her relation to her late partner. That includes such issues as deciding the handling of Pat's remains, as well as the final dispensation of her considerable assets, including those she jointly held with her beloved. Relations suddenly become strained, if not downright ugly, with a woman they've long seemed to accept as a member of the family. This is especially apparent when Pat's relations try to grab all they can in an effort to solve the many fiscal problems that they've brought upon themselves. As all of this plays out, viewers thus witness the stark contrast that exists between the loving bond that the couple forged for one another and what Pat's relatives have created for themselves in their largely failed attempts at making a supposedly healthy and successful family, a comparison deftly and sensitively yet candidly presented by the filmmaker. While this story may not be especially original, its pacing can be a tad slow and its overall handling may at times be a little too deliberate, this picture nevertheless packs quite a powerful emotional punch, superbly depicted in the stellar performances of the excellent ensemble cast, backed by beautiful cinematography and a subdued atmospheric background score. "All Shall Be Well" is, without a doubt, one of 2024's underrated gems, a film that will both move and incense audiences, particularly when it comes to distinguishing what's legally permissible and what's ethically proper, especially in matters of love and what constitutes "family."

Two women, Pat and Angie, have been happily living in their beautiful cozy apartment in Hong Kong for decades together. They support, both emotionally and financially, Pat's brother's family and always host family dinners and holiday events. There is no doubt whatsoever that Angie is part of this family, but will that change after Pat suddenly dies in her sleep one day?

At first glance, this film seems to be centered around the legal business that has to be done after somebody who had property to bequeath dies. However, deep down, it is nothing but a drama showing human relationships and how they evolve or deteriorate and what causes these changes to happen. It is about human behavior and conscience, and there's definitely a lot to learn.

Beautiful and delicate work, not to be missed.