Garbed in a wedding dress designed by her long-time friend Eddie Lau, Anita Mui turned to him and said, “I am going to miss this stage. Will you remember me?”
Less than two months later, on Dec 30, 2003, Mui passed away of cancer at the age of 40.
Directed by Longmond Leung, “Anita” is not the first film about the life of the legendary Hong Kong singer and actress but it is the latest and made with a big budget. Mui is portrayed by model Louise Wong who bears an uncanny resemblance to the late singer.
While the film does come with a few flaws, it has enough nostalgic value to emotionally touch fans.
Much of the film takes place during the golden years of the Hong Kong entertainment industry, accurately capturing the vibrancy and liveliness of the scene back then.
It was in that era that Mui made her mark and earned the title of “Madonna of the East”.
Like many other biopics on musicians, “Anita” begins with the dying star preparing to perform for her beloved fans for the final time.
As she is raised to the stage to the roars of the audience, the film flashes back to her childhood, to a six-year-old in 1969, who falls in love with the stage that she shared with her elder sister Ann.
If there’s one thing about the film that deserves praise, it’s how the 1960s vibes are captured with such ease. Malaysians who grew up in that era might feel a little warm and fuzzy inside watching scenes that remind them of their own simple childhood.
The film then shifts to 1982 when Mui’s ascension to stardom begins after participating in a talent contest that cements her entry into the music world proper.
Mui is depicted as fierce and intelligent, which she was in real life, with her confidence driving her to do things her way rather than conforming to the expectations of others.
The movie also touches on her famous and tragic friendship with fellow Hong Kong celebrity Leslie Cheung, played by Terrence Lau.
Fans may remember how Cheung was often regarded as Mui’s little brother, and the interactions between the two characters do certainly invoke that feeling.
Strangely enough, while the film does capture Mui’s platonic love for Cheung, it stumbles when it comes to depicting the turbulence of her infamous love life.
To be fair, the film does show Mui’s struggle to find a lasting and stable relationship but her love interests in the film are not even remotely interesting characters.
And it is a shame the film never discusses Mui’s continued support of Cheung even when rumours swirled about his sexuality in the 1990s.
Throughout the film, archival footage of the real-life Mui is used, a fact that both improves and takes away from the film.
On one hand, it is great to see Mui in the flesh enjoying herself on stage but, at the same time, that energy she had on stage is rarely seen in the film itself.
While Louise Wong bears a strong resemblance to Mui, she at times fails to project the same energy and emotion that Mui was famous for.
All the same, the film is a love letter to fans of Mui, and also provides a nostalgic glimpse of a time when everything was possible in Hong Kong, with celebrities sharing genuine connections with their fans.
It is amazing that nearly two decades after her demise, Mui is still remembered fondly by her fans.
For the younger generation, “Anita” is a good introduction to the legacy of a beloved daughter of Hong Kong who conquered the airwaves and film screens years ago.
“Anita” is currently playing in cinemas nationwide.