Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing this diverse and unique home video line!
In her ambitious follow up to Maybe It's Love, Angie Chen offers a rebuke to the colonial imagination of films such as The World of Suzie Wong (1960). Instead, she brings the Hong Kong of the 50s and 60s to life on her own terms with the story of Shui-Mei (Patricia Ha), a “salt water girl” from the outskirts of the city, who finds a way out of poverty in the Red Light district of Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Over the years, she rises through the ranks, discovering a world of equal hardship and sisterly camaraderie, where colourful characters abound – among them Jimmy (Anthony Wong, in his debut role), a mixed-race kid looking for his father in the crowd of thirsty American sailors. Penned by John Chan Koon Chung (My Heart Is That Eternal Rose), My Name Ain’t Suzie brings a New Wave sensibility to the waning years of the Shaw Brothers Studio with a decade spanning epic that resourcefully reconstructs a bygone era of Cantonese cinema. A rags-to-riches story blending romance and brothel drama, Chen’s film is above all a tale of feminine resilience at the nexus of historical events and shifting colonial powers.
directed by: Angie Chen
starring: Pat Ha Man-Jik, Anthony Wong, Deanie Ip, Angela Yu Chien
1985 / 103 min / 1.85:1 / Cantonese DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.7831326 / 5 from 83 reviews.
My Name Ain't Suzie, a Blu-ray release by Kani, offers a 2K restoration of Angie Chen's film, praised for its historical context and feminine resilience. The release includes interviews with the director and screenwriter, and a theatrical trailer booklet. It's a compelling choice for fans of Asian cinema and historical dramas.
Review topics: ["looks","feel","packaging","work","sound","piece","buy","film","release","drama","movie","restoration","artwork","transfer","kani","watch","performances","gem","flick","slipcover","extras","fan","charm","label","anthony wong","art","acting","director"].
"Another unheard of gem from Kani. I don’t know where they keep getting these films from, but I’m grateful for their good taste! The restoration is beautiful, extras informative, clear sound, and wonderful artwork. Highly recommended!"
"Man Kani did a great job with this Shaw Brothers melodrama that packs quite a punch. The picture quality looks fantastic and it's filled with some great extras. Anthony Wong is as usual great and it's his film debut but the star of this film is definitely Patricia Ha. Great purchase!"
"Angie Chen's response to the Life of Suzy Wong is an unfiltered look at the hardships women face in the Red Light Disctric of Wan Chai. The life is not glamorous, filled with competition, gang fights, deplorable men, greed, amd more. A fine balance of charm and endurance, and the debut of Anthony Wong!"
"Cover art poster design is cool so went ahead and purchased this without any prior knowledge of it. The movie did not disappoint. Solid presentation, good features, excellent pickup and happy to have it!"
"Patricia Ha is just amazing and she really brings bar girl Shui-Mei alive. She has good supporting actors also, but for me she is the movie. It's for me a surprise that you can make a film about sex workers without sex, but Angie Chen has managed that. But I don't think that would be possible without the amazing Patricia Ha, who really carries the film."
"Incredible restoration of a great HK movie which was boicotted by Shaw Brothers for decades. Angie Chen is an incredible director who is able to depict the parable of a young girl from her village to the HK crime scene. . . Deserve a place of honour in HK cinema history."
"My Name Ain’t Suzie is a modest but intriguing slice of early Hong Kong exploitation cinema, remembered today more for its cultural context than its filmmaking finesse. The 1950 film follows a young woman pulled into the world of nightclub hostesses, using melodrama and moral caution to explore themes of poverty, temptation, and social stigma. Stylistically, it blends noir‑ish atmosphere with the didactic tone common in mid‑century “fallen woman” narratives. Performances are earnest, and the film offers a surprisingly sympathetic look at women navigating limited choices in postwar Hong Kong. Still, its pacing can feel stiff, and its moral framing is unmistakably of its era."
"My Name Ain’t Suzie is a compelling Hong Kong drama that blends emotional storytelling with an honest, compassionate look at its characters. The film’s strong performances and grounded direction give it both heart and authenticity. It’s a moving, thoughtfully crafted work that remains a rewarding discovery for fans of Hong Kong cinema."
"Not usually a fan of SB films, but Anthony Wong's debut role. . . . . And the fact that some of these Kani releases are top banana!"
"Great Kani release of a great movie with great slipcover. Looks and sounds great, too."
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