OVERLAY REPORT

In Peter Chan’s 1996 film *Comrades, Almost a Love Story*, both the English and Chinese titles are deeply significant to the plot, reflecting the characters' identities as immigrants and the unconventional nature of their relationship. ### 1. Significance of the English Title: *Comrades, Almost a Love Story* The English title highlights the central tension in the relationship between Li Xiao-jun (Leon Lai) and Li Qiao (Maggie Cheung). * **"Comrades" (*Tóngzhì*):** This term refers to their shared status as "mainlanders" (immigrants from mainland China) in 1980s Hong Kong. In the context of the People's Republic of China, "comrade" was a standard socialist form of address. In the film, it symbolizes the common roots that bind them together in a foreign, often hostile metropolis. * **"Almost a Love Story":** Director Peter Chan has stated in interviews that he does not view the film as a conventional romance. The characters do not fall in love at first sight; rather, they are brought together by loneliness and the practical need for companionship. Their relationship is often "almost" a love story because it is constantly interrupted by their differing ambitions—Xiao-jun wants to bring his fiancée from home, while Li Qiao is determined to become a successful, wealthy Hong Konger. ### 2. Direct Reference in Dialogue The title is referenced directly in a pivotal scene early in the film when Li Qiao’s "secret" identity is revealed. Li Qiao initially pretends to be a local Hong Konger to distance herself from the stigma of being a mainlander. When Xiao-jun eventually discovers she is actually from Guangzhou (in mainland China), he smiles and says: > **"Then we are comrades."** (那么我们是同志了 / *Nàme wǒmen shì tóngzhì le.*) Li Qiao, who is desperate to assimilate and sees the term "comrade" as provincial and uncool, immediately retorts: > **"Hell with 'we are comrades.' We speak Cantonese, watch Hong Kong TV, and drink Vitasoy. We are so close to Hong Kong."** This exchange is crucial because it establishes that while they are "comrades" by birth, Li Qiao views that identity as a hurdle to her "Hong Kong Dream," whereas Xiao-jun embraces it as a source of comfort. ### 3. Significance of the Chinese Title: *Tian Mi Mi* (甜蜜蜜) The Chinese title, *Tian Mi Mi* (which literally means "Very Sweet" or "Sweet Honey"), is the name of a famous song by the Taiwanese singer **Teresa Teng**. * **Teresa Teng as a Symbol:** Teng’s music was immensely popular in mainland China and among the Chinese diaspora, serving as a "universal language" for Chinese people across the globe. * **Plot Integration:** The song appears throughout the film; notably, the two characters hum it while riding a bicycle together through the streets of Hong Kong. * **The Final Reunion:** The singer's death in 1995 serves as the plot's final catalyst. After years of being separated and living in New York, the two characters happen to stand next to each other in front of an electronics store window, both drawn to a television broadcast reporting the news of Teresa Teng’s passing. The "sweetness" of the title is ironic, as their journey is defined more by hardship, missed opportunities, and the bittersweet passage of time than by simple "sweet" romance.