My Heart Is That Eternal Rose
| My Heart Is That Eternal Rose | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Patrick Tam |
| Written by | Chan Koonchung Tsang Kan-cheung |
| Produced by | John Sham |
| Starring | Kenny Bee Joey Wong Tony Leung Chiu-wai |
| Cinematography | David Chung Christopher Doyle |
| Edited by | Cheung Kwok-kuen |
| Music by | Danny Chung |
Production company | Maverick Film Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Newport Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Box office | HK$3.1 million |
My Heart Is That Eternal Rose (simplified Chinese: 杀手蝴蝶梦; traditional Chinese: 殺手蝴蝶夢; lit. 'Butterfly Dream Killer') is a 1989 Hong Kong film that blends action, romance, crime, and thriller elements. Directed by Patrick Tam, it stars Kenny Bee, Joey Wong, and Tony Leung Chiu-wai.
Plot
Rick Ma kills a police officer to help his lover Lap, then flees from Hong Kong to the Philippines, where he becomes a professional hitman. Later, he is hired to return to Hong Kong to assassinate a key witness, and unexpectedly reunites with Lap.
Earlier, Lap's father had been kidnapped by a triad gang. She sought help from a crime boss known as Shen to rescue him, but in return was forced to become his mistress. Later, Shen's driver, Cheung, helps Lap escape. As a result, he and Rick Ma both become targets of Shen's pursuit.
During their escape, Rick Ma and Cheung become friends and, together with Lap, form a central love triangle that drives the story. In the final gun battle with Shen, only one of them survives.
Cast
- Kenny Bee as Rick Ma
- Joey Wong as Lap
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Cheung
- Michael Chan as Shen
- Cheung Tat-ming as Law Man-shing's Son
- Gam Lui as Law Man-shing
- Kwan Hoi-san as Uncle Cheung
- Gordon Liu as Lai Liu
- Ng Man-tat as Inspector Tang
Release
My Heart is That Eternal Rose was released on April 20, 1989. The film grossed a total of $3.1 million Hong Kong dollars.[1] In 2024, the independent art-house cinema Metrograph screened My Heart Is That Eternal Rose in the United States for the first time.[2]
Awards
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Film Awards | 8 April 1990 | Best Supporting Actor | Tony Leung Chiu-wai | Won | [3] |
| Best Art Direction | Patrick Tam, Eddie Mok | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Kwok-Kuen Cheung | Nominated |
References
- ^ "殺手蝴蝶夢 My Heart is That Eternal Rose". City University of Hong Kong (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ "經典港片「殺手蝴蝶夢」2K修復 在美首映" (in Chinese). World Journal. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "List of Nominees and Awardees of The 9th Hong Kong Film Awards" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Film Awards. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2025.