Song of the Exile

Hueyin completes her media studies in London and graduates in 1973. She discovers, to her dismay, that unlike her white roommates, she is rejected from a BBC interview, a setback that highlights racial discrimination and fuels her determination to prove herself.

Upon receiving a letter from her mother, Hueyin returns to Hong Kong to attend her younger sister's wedding. The trip forces her to confront the strained mother-daughter relationship and the cultural tensions that have long divided them.

Flashbacks reveal a strained mother-daughter dynamic, rooted in Aiko's Japanese identity and the cultural tensions of life in Hong Kong. Hueyin's paternal grandparents often overstepped boundaries during her upbringing, contributing to ongoing family dysfunction.

During the wartime era in Manchukuo, Aiko faces difficult decisions after Japan's defeat and the uncertainty of imprisonment. The infant nephew's serious illness is eventually cured by Mr. Cheung's intervention, weaving his presence into the family’s fate as they are escorted toward repatriation.

On the roadside, Mr. Cheung reveals a desire to pursue a romantic relationship with Aiko after easing the family’s escape from danger. He escorts Aiko and her kin to the Japanese repatriation site, displaying a mix of compassion and sincere intention.

In 1973 Hueyin accompanies Aiko to Beppu, Japan, where she initially feels out of place due to language barriers and cultural differences. Over time she bonds with an uncle, learns to accept her Japanese heritage, and reaches an understanding with her mother.

The experience in Beppu pushes Hueyin to move beyond the BBC rejection and pursue a career as a television journalist in Hong Kong. It marks a turning point in her personal identity and professional aspirations.

Aiko encourages Hueyin to visit her paternal grandparents in Guangdong. There, Hueyin discovers one of her youngest relatives has a mental disability, a revelation that deepens her understanding of family burdens and resilience.

Hueyin begins reporting on political rallies in Hong Kong, giving voice to social changes while carrying forward her personal journey of heritage and reconciliation. Her career sits alongside the contrasts of the Beppu shrine and the ancestral home.

The film closes with Hueyin praying before a dimly lit ancestral altar, a quiet counterpoint to the open-air shrines she visited in Japan and the public rallies she covers. The moment encapsulates her integration of family heritage with her public life.