Ben Yuen
Award-Winning Filmmaker
Best Supporting Actor
As Uncle Tong Sui, The Dumpling Queen
Jury Citation
Ben Yuen won because he gives a functional character an independent arc and warm human depth. In The Dumpling Queen he shows deep skill: in portraying the character's complex state of mind at a turning point of fate, his performance is clearly layered and its emotional progression natural and fluent, bringing fresh artistic vitality to Hong Kong cinema's tradition of warm-hearted stories of ordinary people.
The Dumpling Queen: Synopsis
In the 1970s, Zang Jianhe (Ma Li), a young woman from Qingdao, is forced to leave home with her two daughters. To make a living and raise them, she washes dishes by day and cleans cars by night. With no one to rely on, she bears the heavy pressure alone. Determined to break free of her fate, Zang Jianhe decides to make a living selling dumplings. From having no customers to a thriving business, she draws strength from those around her who are tough-talking but kind-hearted: Sister Hong (Kara Wai), Brother Wah (Zhu Yawen) and Uncle Tong Sui (Ben Yuen). Through perseverance, her dumpling business grows ever larger and her path in life grows ever wider... The film is based on a true story.