One of the most acclaimed directors of Hong Kong New Wave cinema, Ann Hui tackles sensitive political and social issues. Her latest film, “The Way We Are,” delves into life in Tin Shui Wai. She talks to June Ng about love, sorrow and friendship.

I was born in Anshan in Manchuria. When the civil war ended, my family moved to Macau because my father was a Kuomintang member. We settled in Hong Kong when I was five.

I was a good student, always wanted to be Number 1, and became Number 1.

I majored in English Literature during my time at Hong Kong University. It sounds like an excessively sentimental subject, but I’m not a very sensitive person.

I was a big girl. It’s hard to be sensitive when you’re fat.

Academia is too lonely. Ten hours a day researching on your own.

That kind of life is also too divorced from reality—my first topic was the works of poet Ezra Pound.

Suddenly, I became very interested in movies. My supervisor suggested I go to film school. I thought, “Why not?” And then I was off to film school in London. 

I wanted to become a film librarian or film critic, but when I got back to Hong Kong there were so many new TV channels recruiting staff. That’s how I got into the industry.

I had to learn everything from scratch. It was scary, but I had fun. Most of the staff were new so it didn’t matter if we slipped up.

Making movies is hard work, but I really enjoy doing it. It’s very down to earth, you have to do everything with your own hands, and I’m happy when people appreciate my work.

I watched ”The Dark Knight” the other day and I was totally blown away. But at the same time, it got me thinking how much I am over big-budget projects. I just want do small-scale art films now. Movies about the real Hong Kong.

But it’s tough to make art films in Hong Kong—romantic movies are easier to sell than stories about old people and families.

I was more influenced by Western culture in the past and I thought Hong Kong wasn’t very sophisticated. But now I never want to leave the city.

After the handover I started going to China for work. I prefer Hong Kongers—our interpersonal relationships and how we work are healthier.  We’re more straightforward and we’re not excessively polite.

My recommended reading is Shizukana Seikatsu’s “A Quiet Life.” It’s about the author’s mentally challenged son. A lot of his work has positive reflections on why we have to treat everyone the same. 

People pay attention to young women when they cry. When an old woman cries, no one cares. This is the world we live in.

It’s hard to find love when you grow old.

At 40 most people will have their life partner, but by 60, most people can hardly move, let alone find love.

How can you make yourself happy? Find friends to talk to, have a good meal and sleep. Sleep will always make the worst things in life better.