How ‘shocking’ true stories on Hong Kong gay couples’ rights inspired director Ray Yeung’s new film All Shall Be Well
- Premiering at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, Yeung’s film follows a gay woman whose partner dies without leaving a will and the ensuing struggle
- The director, who cast veteran actress Maggie Li in her first lesbian role, says Hong Kong has ‘a long way to go’ in terms of rights for LGBTQ couples
When Hong Kong director Ray Yeung began researching for his new film All Shall Be Well, he heard some real horror stories.
The film deals with the fallout between the family of a deceased woman and her unmarried partner, Angie (Patra Au Ga-man). Unable to marry due to Hong Kong’s laws that only permit heterosexual unions, Angie finds herself brutally exposed when Pat dies suddenly without making a will.
Under Hong Kong rules, the property rights revert to the family, and Angie looks set to be forced to leave Pat’s apartment, one she’s lived in for years.
Yeung was inspired by five women who went through similar experiences. “One woman – she had a very, very bad experience because the deceased’s family did a lot of things. Like they changed the locks. And they went to her apartment and they sat there for hours, giving her pressure to the extent that eventually she had to leave.”
Another story he heard was of family members calling up the grief-stricken partner the day after the death of their loved one to reclaim some watches. “They used the excuse: ‘Oh, we wanted the watches for the funeral.’ Which is shocking.”