From Hong Kong director Ray Yeung, All Shall Be Well gently unravels the challenges facing an older lesbian woman when her partner of over 30 years suddenly dies. Playing in the Love strand at the London Film Festival 2024.
All Shall Be Well is a beautiful piece of storytelling, centring on Angie (Patra Au) and Pat (Lin-Lin Li), an older lesbian couple who have been together for over 30 years. In the opening scenes, we go shopping with them as they select fresh food and flowers for the family celebration meal they are hosting that evening. It’s an idyllic relationship, supportive and caring, and so after a lovely family gathering, it’s a shock to everyone when Pat dies suddenly.
The whole family (Pat’s brother, sister-in-law, and grown-up niece and nephew) grieves the loss, but it soon becomes evident that Angie’s place has suddenly become more precarious; with Pat no longer there, her family do not regard Angie as a family member, yet pressure her to produce for them the documents required to settle Pat’s estate. Angie finds herself facing the possibility of losing her home and struggles to maintain her dignity and resilience in her changed circumstances, while still in the process of grieving the loss of her life partner.
There are no huge emotional outbursts in the film, yet Angie’s frustration at not having her relationship recognised now that Pat is gone is clear and heartbreaking – and beautifully rendered by Patra Au.
Ray Yeung gently exposes the issues in the Hong Kong legal system which Angie faces, as she turns to her group of lesbian friends for support as relationships with the family become increasingly messy.
All Shall Be Well is a gentle journey of grief and resilience, and recommended viewing. Also, please make a will.
All Shall Be Well plays in the Love strand of the London Film Festival 2024.
From Hong Kong director Ray Yeung, All Shall Be Well gently unravels the challenges facing an older lesbian woman when her partner of over 30 years suddenly dies. Playing in the Love strand at the London Film Festival 2024.
All Shall Be Well is a beautiful piece of storytelling, centring on Angie (Patra Au) and Pat (Lin-Lin Li), an older lesbian couple who have been together for over 30 years. In the opening scenes, we go shopping with them as they select fresh food and flowers for the family celebration meal they are hosting that evening. It’s an idyllic relationship, supportive and caring, and so after a lovely family gathering, it’s a shock to everyone when Pat dies suddenly.
The whole family (Pat’s brother, sister-in-law, and grown-up niece and nephew) grieves the loss, but it soon becomes evident that Angie’s place has suddenly become more precarious; with Pat no longer there, her family do not regard Angie as a family member, yet pressure her to produce for them the documents required to settle Pat’s estate. Angie finds herself facing the possibility of losing her home and struggles to maintain her dignity and resilience in her changed circumstances, while still in the process of grieving the loss of her life partner.
There are no huge emotional outbursts in the film, yet Angie’s frustration at not having her relationship recognised now that Pat is gone is clear and heartbreaking – and beautifully rendered by Patra Au.
Ray Yeung gently exposes the issues in the Hong Kong legal system which Angie faces, as she turns to her group of lesbian friends for support as relationships with the family become increasingly messy.
All Shall Be Well is a gentle journey of grief and resilience, and recommended viewing. Also, please make a will.
All Shall Be Well plays in the Love strand of the London Film Festival 2024.
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