Anna Magdalena is a 1998 Hong Kong film starring Kelly Chen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Aaron Kwok. It was the directorial debut of production designer Yee Chung-Man.

Title

The title refers to the keyboard piece Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach, from the 1725 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Anna Magdalena was Bach's second wife. The music attracts the attention of Chan Kar-fu and Yau Muk-yan as Kelly Chen's character plays it on her piano. The film score uses this theme repeatedly.

Synopsis

The film structure loosely follows that of the minuet: four "movements", which are announced by titles: two themes, a duet, and a set of variations. 1- Chan Kar-fu's (Takeshi Kaneshiro) introduction 2- Yau Muk-yan's (Aaron Kwok) effect on his life 3- Mok Man-Yee's (Kelly Chen) effect on their lives 4- Chan Kar-fu's literary vision of love. This fourth "movement" (Variations) is a wild fantasy on the previous material, based on the novel written by Kaneshiro's character: The XO Pair.

Unemployed aspiring writer Yau Muk-yan (Aaron Kwok) moves into the apartment of Chan Kar-fu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a shy piano tuner. Both will soon fall in love with their new neighbor Mok Man-Yee (Kelly Chen).

Cast includes

• Kelly Chen - Mok Man-Yee
• Takeshi Kaneshiro - Chan Kar-fu
• Aaron Kwok - Yau Muk-yan
• Jacky Cheung - Policeman
• Leslie Cheung - Editor
• Anita Yuen - Assistant Editor
• Josie Ho - Cindy, Yau Muk-yan's former girlfriend
• Leo Ku - Client in restaurant (cameo)
• Eric Tsang - Building watchman (cameo)
• Wei Wei - White-haired piano teacher
• Chung Chun

Filming locations

• Hong Kong
• Vietnam for the fantasy scenes

Reception

The film grossed 7.8 million HK$ in Hong Kong.

It was nominated at the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards:

• Nominated - Best Cinematography (Peter Pau Tak-Hei)
• Nominated - Best Art Direction (Poon Chi-Wai)
• Nominated - Best Costume Design (Ng Lei-Lo)
• Nominated - Best Original Score (Chiu Tsang-Hei)

1999 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: "Film of Merit"

See also

• List of Hong Kong films

References

External links

• hkcinemagic entry (includes trailers)
• lovehkfilm entry
• chinesecinemas.org entry (detailed review)
• dragonsdenuk (includes several pictures of the movie)
• Russian film review (includes pictures)
• brns entry (more pictures)
• Soundtrack listing