Lau and Ip had not worked together since 1999 's '' Prince Charming '' . Production of the film officially began during Chinese New Year . It was filmed in Mei Foo Sun Chuen . Production was wrapped on 6 April 2011 after two months of filming . The film competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival . It was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards , but it did not make the final shortlist . '' A Simple Life '' was an official selection for competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival , where it won 4 awards . Deanie Ip won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for her role in this film . She is the first Hong Konger to win this prize . In March , she also became the first Hong Konger to win the Asian Film Award for Best Actress . At the same event , director Ann Hui became the first woman to win the Lifetime Achievement Award . At the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony , '' A Simple Life '' won 5 major prizes ( film , director , screenplay , actor , actress ) , repeating what happened with Hui 's '' Summer Snow '' in 1996 . Ann Hui has won Best Director ( 4 times ) more than anyone else at the Hong Kong Film Awards . Ip is the oldest Best Actress recipient ( 64 years old at the time of her win )
84th Academy Awards
84th Academy Awards
A Simple Life