In 2008 , Hui directed the highly acclaimed domestic drama , '' The Way We Are '' , which was then followed up by '' Night and Fog '' . In an interview with '' Muse '' Magazine , Hui explains how she sees the two films as about something uniquely Hong Kong : ' ( on '' Night and Fog '' ) I think that this film can represent something ; it can express a kind of feeling about the middle and lower class , and maybe even Hong Kong as a whole . Everyone can eat at McDonald 's or shop at malls . That 's a way of life , but spiritually , there 's dissatisfaction , especially with families on welfare . They do n't really have any worries about life , but there 's an unspeakable feeling of depression . ' '' A Simple Life '' ( 2011 ) premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival where it was nominated for the Golden Lion . The film centers around the relationship of two characters , Ah Tao ( Deanie Ip ) and Roger ( Andy Lau ) . It is not a love story , but rather a tale about a master and his long-time servant and was based on the relationship producer Roger Lee had with his servant . The film was chosen as Hong Kong 's submission to the Academy Awards but did not make the shortlist . Hui could not afford the cost for filming '' A Simple Life u '' ntil found Andy Lau . ” You make a movie and a lot of people ask you why you do it , and this time I was moved by one person 's behavior , by the script . " " Because she has always shot a very authentic Hong Kong theme , the reaction on the mainland will not be too special , " said Andy Lau . When Hui reached him , she said something that made him sad : " I have n't had enough money for a long time . Can you help me ? " " Andy Lau said it touched him . " I feel so sad . Sometimes when you make a movie , they say , are n’t you afraid to lose money ? It 's not the best-selling , it 's not the most famous , but sometimes you 're moved , maybe it 's the action , maybe it 's the script , and the many little drops add together to make me do it . I work hard to make money every day , so I wo n't be stupid . He invested 30 million Yuan before Yu Dong ( President of Bona Film Group Limited ) joined . " Both the director and I wanted the film to come out , so we calculated the cost and used it to produce , what I lost was just my salary , just count it as finding someone to play with me for two months
68th Venice International Film Festival
68th Venice International Film Festival
Ann Hui