Coronavirus Dominates Dinner Conversations

Hong Kong commuters disembark from the MTR train, all wearing masks

At the few gatherings I have been to, the talk around the table is the coronavirus, now called COVID-19, and how it has impacted our daily lives.

Many people have been stuck working at home, some more productive than if they were in the office, while others still continue to go in to work.

Today there seemed to be more people out and about -- at around 6.15pm, the Central MTR station was relatively busy, with lots of people coming into the station during rush hour.

Some resort to wearing swimming goggles and tear gas masks

I went to a restaurant in Central that opened recently, and there was a long queue outside the door. People were encouraged to eat outside and one group even had a bottle of wine complete with wine glasses as they ate pizza.

Inside one person at our table wondered if the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens would still be on -- we found out later it is now postponed to October -- and would an annual food festival called Taste of Hong Kong would still go ahead in March? (we don't think so).

Another person observed how hiking up Victoria Peak is now very popular, people wanting some fresh air and exercise, but when it came to the cinema, they now take your temperature and it is mandatory to wear a mask in the theatre.

On Sunday I went to see The Farewell on the big screen and while temperatures were not taken, almost all of us wore masks as we watched the film. Strange, but the new normal.

Lining up for either masks or toilet paper or both

The procurement of masks was also a hot topic, how they were completely overpriced, and getting used to wearing them on a daily basis. Some even wear masks inside the office, probably to take extra precautions, but report their glasses keep fogging up, and having to readjust masks when they smile.

It's definitely a strange new world we're living in -- and for how long? That's what we all want to know.

Worldwide there are now over 45,100 confirmed cases, 1,115 deaths, and over 4,700 recovered. The number of deaths have now surpassed 774 people for SARS in 2002-03, so it seems to be more contagious and deadly too.

In Hong Kong today we recorded our 50th patient confirmed with COVID-19, about 10 of the cases are related to a hot pot dinner on January 26 with two relatives who came down from the mainland.

Some lucky shoppers stocking up on toilet paper

Meanwhile the hunt for reasonably priced masks continues and the massive line for toilet paper. I have seen a few people carrying their prized toilet packs on the MTR or a bag of rice.

It's crazy that masks, rice and toilet paper are such highly-prized items. We are all buckling down for war and collecting whatever provisions we can get. But who are we fighting? The coronavirus or each other?

We've had hardly any help from the Hong Kong government, and not a peep! Not one word from the Liaison Office and the new leader there, Luo Huining.

Perhaps he's hiding in a basement somewhere a la Parasite and hoarding all our masks, toilet paper and rice...?

Awkwafina's Big Win for The Farewell

Big smile for Awkwafina for her Golden Globe win as Billi in The Farewell

So thrilled Chinese-American actress and rapper Awkwafina won Best Actress in a musical or comedy category in the Golden Globes for The Farewell, that I just watched on the plane the day before on the way back to Hong Kong.

I was going to write a review about the film today, but even better to have Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, be the first Chinese-American actress to win in a big category. Before The Farewell, Awkwafina became famous her comedic character in Crazy Rich Asians.

Zhao Shuzhen plays Billi's grandmother in the film

On stage she thanked her co-star Zhao Shuzhen, who plays her grandmother in the film, and director Lulu Wang, who she paid tribute to.

"You gave me this chance, the chance of a lifetime, and you taught me so much. And just filming this story, being with you, was incredible," Awkwafina said in her acceptance speech.

Then she dedicated the award to her father Wally, saying, "I told you I'd get a job, Dad."

The Farewell is called 别告诉她 or "Don't tell her" in Chinese, about a family distraught about the matriarch's terminal illness, but don't want to tell her. Instead they conjure up a wedding banquet as an excuse for the family to get together to say good-bye.

The movie starts with a message that the story is based on an actual lie that happened in Wang's family that she wrote into The Farewell.

Lulu Wang (left) based the film on her family's story

Awkwafina plays Billi, an aspiring writer from an immigrant family from Changchun, China. She is struggling to get her career started when she finds out from her parents that her paternal grandmother or nai nai is dying -- but no one is to tell her that.

When they arrive in Changchun, everyone struggles to be happy to see her and to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Billi's cousin, and grandmother can't understand why everyone has long faces. It also leads to some funny scenes that break up the sad atmosphere.

What I like about The Farewell is how it cleverly weaves things together. There are themes of identity, family, life and death, and the cultural differences between east and west. Through Billi, the viewers begin to understand Chinese culture, why the family is so adamant nai nai must not know the truth, while she, having grown up in America thinks this is outrageous.

In the film everyone struggles not to tell nai nai the truth

Billi speaks much like other immigrants who moved when they were very young, or second generation -- slowly and with a limited vocabulary. The film is mostly in Mandarin, but when she talks to her parents, it's in English, and her mother and father give context and explanations not only to Billi but to the audience too.

There are also scenes of how China has changed so much in the last few decades with better living standards, and people can quickly become millionaires, so why do the Chinese send their kids to study in the United States? It was interesting to see this issue addressed.

Some of my friends who have seen the film cried their eyes out because The Farewell touches on the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, especially when the grandparents raise the children in their first few years. They also felt The Farewell was their immigrant experience, portrayed accurately on the screen.

Awkwafina thanked Wang for the opportunity to be in the film

For me it was a thoughtful, sentimental look at the challenges families face in dealing with the impending death of an elder, and the different reactions to it. What also made it complex was the layers of lies -- nai nai also lied to her husband about his diagnosis -- does she really know what her situation is and is lying to others about what she knows?

Backstage after Awkwafina's big win, she admitted the role was very challenging for her, because she did not speak Chinese well. But she felt the script was too important to pass up.

I hope there are more films like The Farewell, that tell a more nuanced story about Chinese people and their immigrant experiences, or what it's like to grow up in the west. There are too many stories out there that need to be told.