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Sat 22nd Nov 2008
F	07:00	Action
F	07:15	Your Sport
F	07:30	The Generous Gene
F	08:00	Charge
	09:00	The Street Where You Live

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Lai See - Film

Lai See

The premiere of a brand new short film, Lai See (Red Envelope), was held at the Curzon West End to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Pig.

Attending the film and reception were famous shoe designer Jimmy Choo, athlete Ade Adepitan, agony aunt Claire Rayner and TV actress Doreen Mantle.

A traditional Chinese lion, a five foot high pig, a magician, musicians and ribbon dancers entertained the gathering before and after the event.

Lai See - produced and directed by Paul Wu (interview) - is a short comedy drama telling the story of Peng as fate sends him messages he just can't ignore and he discovers what's really important in life.

The two leading characters are played by British-born Chinese actors, Jon David Yu and Elizabeth Tan.

Film screened at the Curzon

The invited audience included ‘star’ volunteers such as Ken Moc and Effy Ali who both won Golden Pig Awards for the volunteering work they do and were celebrated in two short films about their work.

Lai See - Background

Peng was born 36 years ago in the Year of the Pig but going against his astrological nature by living a life blinkered to the needs of others. He’s selfish, greedy, lustful and blind to anything else or anyone else but his own base desires.

Faye and Peng

One morning Peng wakes up to find someone has shoved a “Lai See” or “hong bao” – a Chinese red envelope under his door. Instead of finding money in the envelope he finds a message that sets him off on a voyage of self-discovery where he learns that helping others through volunteering can bring rewards far beyond the material.

By the end of the film his destiny is fulfilled and his true self reawakened. Peng becomes the epitome of someone born in the Year of the Pig: generous in spirit and social with a new friendship with Faye, played by Elizabeth Tan.

Faye

Stylistically shot, the film is written and directed by Paul Wu and evokes the aesthetics of such films as Delicatessen and Kung Fu Hustle, blending the humorous with the surreal – avoiding po-faced earnestness and worthiness but charming the audience to appreciate that volunteering really can be rewarding.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 January 2008 )