There is nothing really to criticise about the quality of this film. It is a delicate and tender portrait of a lesbian couple in Hong Kong, made tragic by the death of one that then cuts the other adrift with no rights in a heterosexual and patriarchal society.

But it is unutterably sad, and as disappointment after disappointment befalls kindhearted Angie (Patra Au) in the wake of the loss of her life partner Pat (Lin-Lin Li), it felt like another film about queer people that focuses relentlessly on the tragedy of homophobia.

As my MIFF buddy Ariel said after this film finished – give me queer joy! This is a film for non-queer people about homophobia. It is good that it exists, this is a real problem for people all over the world, but as far as programming goes, why does MIFF have queer film after queer film that is about homophobia or transphobia or non-queer peoples’ experience of queerness? They made such a good point as I found this in Crossing and Toll and My Sunshine, the only overtly queer films I have seen at the festival this year so far.

As far as the story goes, it is a beautiful portrait of a loving couple and the role they have played in providing for family members who are struggling. Pat‘s brother has had to take a graveyard shift dead end job as a parking attendant in order to make ends meet.  His daughter Fanny (Fish Liew) is married to her childhood sweetheart who she now despises, and his son Victor (Chung-Hang Leung) is driving an Uber and desperately trying to find someone who will love him despite his lack of finances.

They all love Pat and Angie, happy to take advantage of their largesse and greater disposable income.  But when Pat dies, we can see their gradual realisation that they can take over her assets as Angie has no status without her. It’s excruciating as we watch them rally behind Angie and then gradually put their own needs first. It is more than melancholy, it is tragic.

The title is an interesting one as we are not sure that all is well. It may be an indication of Angie and Pat’s innate strength of character, which means they will make the best of whatever life presents them with. It feels like this is a cautionary tale, for people with marginal status to make sure they write wills (but I hate the feeling that this is victim blaming). It speaks of that assumption that you will be protected by the strength of your character, but, like in I Shall Not Hate, this is sadly not true.