The Home Song Stories
Encyclopedia
The Home Song Stories is an Australian film released in 2007. Written and directed by acclaimed Tony Ayres
of Walking on Water
(2002), The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen
, Joel Lok
, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen
, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.
The film was announced as the Australian entry for the Foreign Language Film
category of the Oscars. It received a total of nine nominations at the 2007 Inside Film Awards
, which were held on 16 November at Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
.
account of Tony Ayres' life at age eight, however the names have been changed. The story is narrated by an adult Tom typing the story on a computer and reflecting on the story "which defines them, which shapes who they are." His mother Rose (Joan Chen
) was a nightclub singer in Hong Kong
in 1964, where she met Bill, an Australian sailor, and married him to seek a better life in Australia, taking her daughter May (Irene Chen
) and son Tom (Joel Lok
). An opening montage of scenes shows Rose making several unsuccessful attempts to establish herself with Chinese partners before moving in with Bill again.
The story begins seven years after their initial migration to Australia, with the family returning to Bill's house in Melbourne
. Bill's mother, Norma (Kerry Walker), who is disapproving of the family, has moved in. When Bill leaves on a tour of duty, Rose and Norma struggle for control over the house. Soon, Rose begins to have an affair with Joe (Qi Yu Wu), the son of the local Chinese restaurateur, who is in his twenties. He moves in with Rose, who tells Norma he is her aunt's son. Rose and her children are eventually kicked out when Norma finds Joe in Rose's room.
Rose settles in with Joe after renting an place from a Chinese man. Their relationship begins to break down, and Rose attempts suicide, however May and Joe discover an affinity for each other and develop into a friendship. Rose, believing that May is trying to take Joe away from her, beats her and curses her. May, as a result, also attempts suicide and Rose also ends up in despair. However, the mother and daughter are reconciled in forgiveness as Rose tells May the story of the difficulties and traumatic experiences in her childhood, where she was forced into a marriage and lost her first two daughters.
The relationship between Rose and Joe collapses, and the family once again returns to Bill's home, with Norma moving out. One afternoon when Tom is walking home with his classmate they encounter Rose in the front yard, and upon overhearing a conversation between two of his classmates bagging out Rose and her clothing, Tom blocks himself from his mother completely. Rose, in the meantime, has had her dream shattered, and is contemplating returning to Hong Kong when Tom abruptly tells her his apathy.
The film culminates in the adult Tom narrating, "Of all the things I remember about my childhood, this is what I remember the most." The eight-year-old Tom wakes up early in the morning to see the light to the backyard shed on and enters to find that Rose has hanged herself. Although she does not die initially, Bill receives a phone call later on confirming her death.
The epilogue to the film shows the adult Tom and his sister May with her family (who happen to be Ayres' real life family) returning to Bill's home. He narrates again, recalling how he never shed a tear for his mother, but instead, wrote the story fully to understand what has shaped him.
The real Tom, Tony Ayres
, and his sister stayed with Bill after their mother's death. May ends up marrying the teacher who became their guardian soon after Bill's death.
2007 Australian Film Institute Awards
2007 Golden Horse Awards
2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Hawaii International Film Festival
Torino International Film Festival
2007 Inside Film Awards
2007 Australian Film Institute Awards
2007 Golden Horse Awards
2007 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
Tony Ayres
Tony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
of Walking on Water
Walking on Water (film)
Walking on Water is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Tony Ayres. The film explores the grief, tenderness, stupidity and humour that arises from death. When Gavin is finally laid to rest after a grueling fight with AIDS, his close friends Charlie and Anna find themselves at odds regarding...
(2002), The Home Song Stories stars Joan Chen
Joan Chen
Joan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
, Joel Lok
Joel Lok
Joel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:...
, Qi Yu Wu, Irene Chen
Irene Chen
Irene Chen is an Australian actress based in Melbourne. At only seventeen, she starred in her first feature film The Home Song Stories, alongside Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.- Career :...
, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.
The film was announced as the Australian entry for the Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
category of the Oscars. It received a total of nine nominations at the 2007 Inside Film Awards
Inside Film Awards
The Inside Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony and broadcast platform for the Australian film industry, a format created by Australian Producer Andrew Dillon...
, which were held on 16 November at Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.
Plot
The film is an autobiographicalAutobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
account of Tony Ayres' life at age eight, however the names have been changed. The story is narrated by an adult Tom typing the story on a computer and reflecting on the story "which defines them, which shapes who they are." His mother Rose (Joan Chen
Joan Chen
Joan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
) was a nightclub singer in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1964, where she met Bill, an Australian sailor, and married him to seek a better life in Australia, taking her daughter May (Irene Chen
Irene Chen
Irene Chen is an Australian actress based in Melbourne. At only seventeen, she starred in her first feature film The Home Song Stories, alongside Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.- Career :...
) and son Tom (Joel Lok
Joel Lok
Joel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:...
). An opening montage of scenes shows Rose making several unsuccessful attempts to establish herself with Chinese partners before moving in with Bill again.
The story begins seven years after their initial migration to Australia, with the family returning to Bill's house in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Bill's mother, Norma (Kerry Walker), who is disapproving of the family, has moved in. When Bill leaves on a tour of duty, Rose and Norma struggle for control over the house. Soon, Rose begins to have an affair with Joe (Qi Yu Wu), the son of the local Chinese restaurateur, who is in his twenties. He moves in with Rose, who tells Norma he is her aunt's son. Rose and her children are eventually kicked out when Norma finds Joe in Rose's room.
Rose settles in with Joe after renting an place from a Chinese man. Their relationship begins to break down, and Rose attempts suicide, however May and Joe discover an affinity for each other and develop into a friendship. Rose, believing that May is trying to take Joe away from her, beats her and curses her. May, as a result, also attempts suicide and Rose also ends up in despair. However, the mother and daughter are reconciled in forgiveness as Rose tells May the story of the difficulties and traumatic experiences in her childhood, where she was forced into a marriage and lost her first two daughters.
The relationship between Rose and Joe collapses, and the family once again returns to Bill's home, with Norma moving out. One afternoon when Tom is walking home with his classmate they encounter Rose in the front yard, and upon overhearing a conversation between two of his classmates bagging out Rose and her clothing, Tom blocks himself from his mother completely. Rose, in the meantime, has had her dream shattered, and is contemplating returning to Hong Kong when Tom abruptly tells her his apathy.
The film culminates in the adult Tom narrating, "Of all the things I remember about my childhood, this is what I remember the most." The eight-year-old Tom wakes up early in the morning to see the light to the backyard shed on and enters to find that Rose has hanged herself. Although she does not die initially, Bill receives a phone call later on confirming her death.
The epilogue to the film shows the adult Tom and his sister May with her family (who happen to be Ayres' real life family) returning to Bill's home. He narrates again, recalling how he never shed a tear for his mother, but instead, wrote the story fully to understand what has shaped him.
The real Tom, Tony Ayres
Tony Ayres
Tony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
, and his sister stayed with Bill after their mother's death. May ends up marrying the teacher who became their guardian soon after Bill's death.
Festivals
The Home Song Stories has been selected to screen at the following film festivals:- 2007 Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
(8–18 February 2007) - 2007 Adelaide Film FestivalAdelaide Film FestivalThe Adelaide Film Festival is a biennial and non-competitive film festival held over two weeks in late February, in Adelaide, South Australia....
(22 February - 4 March 2007) - 2007 Sydney Film FestivalSydney Film FestivalThe Sydney Film Festival is an annual film festival held in the Australian city of Sydney and is held over 12 days in June. The competitive film festival draws international and local attention, with films being showcased in several venues across the city centre and includes features,...
(8–24 June 2007) - 2007 New Zealand International Film Festival (13 July - 28 November 2007)
- 2007 Bangkok International Film FestivalBangkok International Film FestivalThe Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:...
(19–27 July 2007) - 2007 Melbourne International Film FestivalMelbourne International Film FestivalThe Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
(25 July - 12 August 2007) - 2007 Brisbane International Film FestivalBrisbane International Film FestivalBrisbane International Film Festival held in Brisbane provides a focus for film culture in Queensland, Australia. The festival has taken place since 1992 and focuses on films from the Asia-Pacific region. The event offers films including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental, silent films...
(2–12 August 2007) - 2007 Edinburgh International Film FestivalEdinburgh International Film FestivalThe Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
(15–26 August 2007) - 2007 Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
(9–15 September 2007)) - 2007 Calgary International Film FestivalCalgary International Film FestivalThe Calgary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for ten days in late September and early October...
(20–30 September 2007) - 2007 Hawaii International Film FestivalHawaii International Film FestivalThe Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
(18–28 October 2007) - 2007 International Eurasia Film FestivalInternational Eurasia Film FestivalInternational Eurasia Film Festival was a film festival that took place annually from 2005 to 2008 in Antalya, Turkey. The festival was jointly organised by the Turkish Foundation of Cinema and Audio-visual Culture and the Antalya Foundation for Culture and Arts in conjunction with the Antalya...
(19–28 October 2007) - 2007 Cairo International Film FestivalCairo International Film FestivalThe Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
(27 November - 7 December 2007) - 2007 Asia Pacific Film FestivalAsia Pacific Film FestivalThe Asia Pacific Film Festival, first held in 1954, is film festival held annually in an Asian country designated by the Board of Directors of the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific.Awards are handed out for:*Best Film*Best Director...
(13 November 2007) - 2008 San Francisco International Asian American Film FestivalSan Francisco International Asian American Film FestivalThe San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival presented every March is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose, USA...
(13–23 March 2008) - 2008 Silk Screen Asian American Film FestivalSilk Screen Asian American Film FestivalThe Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival is a week long film festival founded in 2006 by filmmaker and artist Harish Saluja and held every May during Asian American Heritage Month in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to show mostly recent films and music by artists with Asian ethnic origins, such as...
(9–18 May 2008)
Nominations
2007 Inside Film AwardsInside Film Awards
The Inside Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony and broadcast platform for the Australian film industry, a format created by Australian Producer Andrew Dillon...
- Best Feature Film
- Best Director - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Actor - Joel Lok
- Best Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Cinematography - Nigel Bluck
- Best Music - Antony Partos
- Best Script - Tony Ayres
- Best Production Design - Melinda Doring
- Best Sound - Craig Carter, John Wilkinson, James Harvey & Andrew Neil
2007 Australian Film Institute Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- L'Oréal Paris AFI Award for Best Film
- L'Oréal Paris AFI Young Actor Award - Joel Lok
- L'Oréal Paris AFI Young Actor Award - Irene ChenIrene ChenIrene Chen is an Australian actress based in Melbourne. At only seventeen, she starred in her first feature film The Home Song Stories, alongside Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.- Career :...
- Macquarie Private Health AFI Award for Best Screenplay - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Direction - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Lead Actor - Qi Yu Wu
- Best Lead Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Supporting Actress - Irene ChenIrene ChenIrene Chen is an Australian actress based in Melbourne. At only seventeen, she starred in her first feature film The Home Song Stories, alongside Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.- Career :...
- Best Cinematography - Nigel Bluck
- Best Editing - Denise Haratzis ASE
- Best Sound - Craig Carter, James Harvey, Andrew Neil & John Wilkinson
- Best Original Music Score - Antony Partos
- Best Production Design - Melinda Doring
- Best Costume Design - Cappi Ireland
2007 Golden Horse Awards
- Best Feature Film - "Home Song Stories"
- Best Leading Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Supporting Actor - Joel LokJoel LokJoel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:...
- Best New Performer - Joel LokJoel LokJoel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:...
- Best Original Screenplay - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Art Direction - Melinda Doring
- Best Makeup & Costume Design - Kirsten Veysey、Cappi Ireland
2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
- Best Performance by an Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
Won
Brisbane International Film FestivalBrisbane International Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival held in Brisbane provides a focus for film culture in Queensland, Australia. The festival has taken place since 1992 and focuses on films from the Asia-Pacific region. The event offers films including features, documentaries, shorts, experimental, silent films...
- FIPRESCI International Jury Award
Hawaii International Film Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
- Halekulani Golden Orchid for Best Feature Film
Torino International Film Festival
- Best Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
2007 Inside Film Awards
Inside Film Awards
The Inside Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony and broadcast platform for the Australian film industry, a format created by Australian Producer Andrew Dillon...
- Best Director - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Actor - Joel LokJoel LokJoel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:...
- Best Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Cinematography - Nigel Bluck
- Best Production Design - Melinda Doring
2007 Australian Film Institute Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
- Best Direction - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Lead Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Screenplay - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
- Best Cinematography - Nigel Bluck
- Best Editing - Denise Haratzis
- Best Original Music Score - Antony Partos
- Best Production Design – Melinda Doring
- Best Costume Design – Cappi Ireland
2007 Golden Horse Awards
- Best Actress - Joan ChenJoan ChenJoan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor...
- Best Original Screenplay - Tony AyresTony AyresTony Ayres is a Chinese-born Australian screenwriter and director. He is most notable for his award-winning films Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories.-Early life:...
2007 New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards
The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards were established in 1979 by the New South Wales Premier Neville Wran. Commenting on its purpose, Wran said: "We want the arts to take, and be seen to take, their proper place in our social priorities...
- Script Writing Award
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Joan Chen Joan Chen Joan Chong Chen is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She became famous in China for her performance in the 1979 film Little Flower and came to international attention for her performance in the 1987 Academy Award-winning film The Last Emperor... |
Rose |
| Joel Lok Joel Lok Joel Lok is an Australian actor based in Melbourne, starring in the recent Australian film, "The Home Song Stories", as the young character, Tom. Joel is the youngest actor to receive an IF Award for his performance in this film. -External links:... |
Tom |
| Qi Yu Wu | Joe |
| Irene Chen Irene Chen Irene Chen is an Australian actress based in Melbourne. At only seventeen, she starred in her first feature film The Home Song Stories, alongside Joan Chen, Joel Lok, Qi Yu Wu, Steven Vidler and Kerry Walker.- Career :... |
May |
| Steven Vidler | Bill |
| Kerry Walker | Norma |
| Haven Tso | Wing |
| Joe Phua | Tom |