Review: The Home Song Stories

6 June 2007

by Graeme Watson

Reviews

Written and Directed by Tony Ayres. Features Joan Chen, Irene Chen, Joel Lok,Steve Vidler and Kerry Walker. Viewed at the Adelaide Film Festival, February 2007.

The second films from AFI award winning Director Tony Ayres is a semi autobiographical story which is powerful, dramatic and memorable.

The story follows Rose (Joan Chen), a Hong Kong nightclub singer who comes to Melbourne, Australia on the arm of Australian Sailor Bill (Steve Vidler) along with her two children Tom (Joel Lok) and May (Irene Chen). After seven days, she leaves him and heads to Sydney, where she dates a succession of men before returning seven years later to her incredibly forgiving husband. The reunion is short lived though as she soon embarks on an affair with the Chef from the restaurant where she works, while her husband is away at sea. Rose is a torn woman, on one hand she is a caring and disciplined mother but she is also a passionate woman wanting to live life to its fullest.

‘The Home Song Stories’ examines Rose’s challenges in balancing her desires and we see her children struggle as they try to fit in around her increasingly demanding and unpredictable behavior.
The quality of acting in this film are impeccable, Joan Chen portrays Rose as an engaging and intriguing character, even though she is not always a sympathetic character. New talents Irene Chen and Joel Lok give wonderful performances that stand up well next to veterans like Steve Vidler and the unforgettable Kerry Walker.

The film is a tragedy and I had streams of tears running down my cheeks well before we reached the end, yet I left the cinema with an upbeat feel which is a testament to the delicate balance in emotions that the film provokes. Filled with beautiful cinematography, flawless performances and engaging storytelling this is a film that should do well when the Australian Awards season rolls around.

It is also an admirable film in it’s portrayal of Asian Australia; it’s a film that allows Australians to experience the migrants story and possibly see themselves in a very different light.