2012's top 10 cinematic sensations

Back to 1942

Feng Xiaogang deals with a dark chapter in Chinese history when 3 million people in Henan province died in a famine in 1942. In a restrained tone, Feng explores the real reasons for the tragedy, such as corruption and war, behind surface causes like drought and locusts. The 147-minute film is not entertaining per se but leads viewers to reflect on both the dark and bright sides of human nature.

A Simple Life

Ann Hui's drama, based on the story between an elderly maid and her boy master, is almost impeccable in storytelling and acting.

Protagonist Ah Tao is a nanny who lives with a family for 60 years. When she has a stroke, the family's son takes responsibility to care for the woman, who has looked after him since he was a baby.

Hui is clever in not turning the flick into a tearjerker but, rather, a touching and emotional drama between the most ordinary of people. Her anti-sentimental approach quietly pulls audiences into the story and to thoughts about how we face aging.