The director, Fruit Chan, made no qualms about this movie; this is not a mainstream movie. Though I find the movie rather draggy in the beginning, I appreciate that this is not a glossed-over kind of film, unlike the Hong Kong serial dramas.

We see life through the eyes of nine-year old Little Cheung, who enjoys a carefree life. His dad owns an eatery and Little Cheung helps out by delivering take-out orders around the neighbourhood, from the mahjong gambling place, funeral parlour, and even the brothels. Everyone is fond of him and he receives generous tips.

His dad is busy working making ends meet and his mother, when not helping at the eatery, is busy gambling at the mahjong centre. The grandma is always at home, and the Filipino maid, Armi, takes care of home, situated above a shop. Do not misconstrue, having a maid is not a luxury, but more of a necessity.

One day, Little Cheung befriends a girl of his age, Fan, whom he 'hires' to help him in his deliveries. They have fun in everything and anything that takes their fancy, like playing in the back of a truck and sharing a cake that they bought with their tips. When the neighbourhood gangster David threatened Little Cheung's father for refusing to pay protection money, Little Cheung revenged by delivering urine-laced lemonade to him.

But what I appreciate most was the magic of childhood being successfully captured on film. There are no glossies here, the living conditions are real. Just as real as the wrinkles on Grandma's face. Grandma and Little Cheung share a special bond, which is just as any grandparent-grandchild. She tells him her old stories, and he listens. It is these moments that grandparents cherish because their own children are grown up and are too busy, so it the grandchildren who will give them the time.

The film doesn't have a 'proper' ending per se, we only see a portion of Little Cheung life through his eyes for a juncture only, and share his joy, trials, tribulations and loss. Many things are left unsaid, unsettled, but life goes on. As I've mentioned, this film is not glossed-over, it's as close as you can get on life in Hong Kong.