Song of the Exile

Song of the Exile

Year: 1990

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Ann Hui

Drama

Set in the early 1970s, the film follows a Chinese‑Japanese student who returns to Hong Kong after completing her studies at a university in London. Back home she confronts a growing rift with her family, especially her mother, as cultural expectations, generational differences and questions of identity spark intense conflict.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Song of the Exile (1990)

Trace every key event in Song of the Exile (1990) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

London graduation and BBC rejection

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.

1973 London
2

Return to Hong Kong for sister's wedding

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.

1973 Hong Kong
3

Flashbacks to a troubled family past

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.

Childhood Hong Kong
4

Aiko's wartime life in Manchukuo and the infant nephew

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.

World War II era Manchukuo
5

Mr. Cheung's roadside intervention and romantic revelation

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.

World War II era Roadside / en route to repatriation site
6

Beppu trip: Beholding heritage and bonding with an uncle

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.

1973 Beppu, Japan
7

Beppu experience fuels a journalistic future

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.

Post-Beppu, 1973 Hong Kong
8

Guangdong trip and discovering a family burden

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.

Post-Beppu Guangdong, China
9

Hueyin begins reporting on Hong Kong's rallies

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.

After 1973 Hong Kong
10

Ancestral altar: a quiet consolidation of roots

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.

Ending Family ancestral temple/home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:06

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Song of the Exile Summary

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Song of the Exile Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Song of the Exile

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