He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father

This article is about the Cantonese-language film. For other uses, see He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father (disambiguation).

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father (新難兄難弟) is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy-drama film starring Tony Leung Ka-fai and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, who are unrelated, playing father and son.^[1] Directed by Peter Chan and Lee Chi-ngai, the film also stars Carina Lau, Anita Yuen and Lawrence Cheng.^[2][3]

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father
Film poster
Traditional Chinese	新難兄難弟
Simplified Chinese	新难兄难弟
Hanyu Pinyin	Xīn Nán Xiōng Nán Dì
Jyutping	San1 Naan4 Hing1 Naan4 Dai6
Directed by	Peter Chan Lee Chi-ngai
Screenplay by	Lee Chi-ngai
Story by	Ngai Tat-sam Mang Wai-leung
Produced by	Peter Chan Claudie Chung
Starring	Tony Leung Ka-fai Tony Leung Chiu-wai Carina Lau Anita Yuen Lawrence Cheng
Cinematography	Andrew Lau Tony Miu Poon Hang-sang Horace Wong Ardy Lam
Edited by	Chan Kei-hop
Music by	Richard Lo
Production company	United Filmmakers Organisation
Distributed by	Newport Entertainment Ltd
Release date	11 December 1993 (1993-12-11)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK$19,874,595

The film is a remake of the 1960 film My Intimate Partners.^[4] The title is a pun on "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", a hit single for The Hollies in 1969 and for Neil Diamond in 1970.

Plot

Yuen scorns his father, who he thinks is too generous and forgiving. Through a flashback/time travel gimmick, Yuen meets his parents during their joyous courtship. Yuen comes to understand and admire his dad, and reflect on his own moral defects.

Cast

• Tony Leung Ka-fai as Tommy Chor Fan
• Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Chor Yuen
• Carina Lau as Laura Watts
• Anita Yuen as Yee / Lynn
• Lawrence Cheng as Lone / Chuen
• Michael Chow as Mr. Cheung
• Anita Lee as Kan
• Lawrence Ng as Loanshark Fung
• Helen Yung as Yin
• Waise Lee as Li Ka-shing / Fan's neighbor (special appearance)
• Chor Yuen as Lord Watsons (cameo)
• Tsang Kan-wing as Laura's cousin (cameo)
• Poon Fong-fong as Siu-kuen (cameo)
• Pang Mei-seung as Laura's mom
• Valerie Chow as Dr. Jenny Chung
• Wong Wa-wo as Bridge player
• Joe Cheung as Photographer
• Kim Yip as Dr. Chi (Zhivago) / Bass player / rickshawman
• Teddy Chan as Kee
• Jacob Cheung as Uncle Mark Sevrn
• Alexander Chan as Fire Dept worker
• Chan Wing-chiu as Housing Authority staff
• Lee Hiu-tung as Bo-bo
• Hau Woon-ling as Richshaw passenger
• Andrew Kam as Sgt Rocky
• Hoh Wan as Kee's father
• Ng Cheuk-long as Young Chor Yuen
• Wong Hei-yeung as Young Lone
• Quintin Wong as Chow Kut

Adaptation

There was a 2009 TVB adaptation of the film taking place in 2008 and then the 1960s. The father of the main character is played by Sunny Chan while the main character is played by Ron Ng.^{[citation needed]}