Her Tender Love (1969) Director: Lui Kei Cast: Connie Chan, Lui Kei, Gung Fan-hung Publisher: China Art; Format: VCD English subtitles: Yes YouTube clip 1 YouTube clip 2 Although Her Tender Love is not the last film that Connie and Lui Kei made together, it is the final testament to their on-screen (and off-screen) romance. For a period of nearly four years, beginning in 1966 with Movie-Fan Princess and ending in 1970 with Secret Agent No. 1, they made 26 films together, becoming one of Hong Kong cinema’s most beloved couples. How did Connie, who was renowned for playing male characters in the opera and swordplay movies she made during her teenage years, end up with Lui Kei as her leading man? Watching their films is almost like witnessing Connie’s journey through some kind of puberty, transforming from a tomboy into a young woman. If you take Movie-Fan Princess and Her Tender Love as the beginning and end of their relationship, you can see this maturation more clearly. In their first film, Connie plays a spunky factory girl who has a crush on her movie idol, played by Lui Kei. He’s a ladies man who prefers the dolled-up feminine type, but after Connie flings ice cream in his face, he becomes hopelessly smitten by her girl-next-door charm and feisty spirit. At one point, he tries to kiss her, only to be rebuffed gently but firmly by her raised hand. Three years later, in what is essentially their last film together, Connie and Lui Kei play step-siblings who love each other. While they don’t kiss in this film either, Her Tender Love compensates with many sweet moments and intimate close-ups. Connie looks more beautiful and more grown up than ever before. Is this the look of a woman in love? Connie and Lui Kei’s romance was not fated to last. Like the love between brother and sister in the film, theirs was a forbidden love. Lui Kei, after all, was already married at the time. In Her Tender Love, Connie worries that people will scorn them if they get married. Lui Kei replies, “If we do things openly and correctly, nobody should stop us falling in love.” The scene is emotionally powerful because of the resonance with their off-screen lives and the depth of feeling shown on-screen. And this is what makes Her Tender Love such a poignant film: it is a fantasy about a true love that could never be consumated in the real world. Written and directed by Lui Kei, it is a lasting tribute to his tender love for Connie Chan. Reviewed by Dave Wells Her Tender Love is full of sweet moments and intimate close-ups. Connie joyously looks ahead to a new life with Lui Kei. Connie pledges to support her man. Hong Kong cinema’s most beloved couple.