Number One Girl

Number One Girl

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Her daughter, who appears rebellious, secretly longs for their mother’s approval like her brother but always feels not good enough. To celebrate their mother’s 60th birthday, she arranges a getaway staycation trip at a hotel in HongKong suburban area. On the day of departure, their mother arrives with an aunt and hands the daughter a relative’s wedding invitation, insisting she attend.

While driving to the hotel, their conversation is strained; daughter gets momentarily distracted and scratches the car. The mother immediately calls the brother for help, but the daughter refuses assistance and insists on handling it herself.

At the hotel, their room is unexpectedly upgraded to a single large-bed room, so they must share the space. While unpacking, the mother brings out an old piece of clothing she has treasured for years to give to her daughter, but the daughter tosses it aside.

Later, while on the balcony, they accidentally become locked out. During the time they cannot leave the balcony, daughter discovers that the mother had cataract surgery without telling her—only the brother knew. She also notices the mother’s grey hair and offers to dye it for her that evening.

They have dinner at a seafood stall; the brother calls and the mother answers excitedly, revealing a stark difference in how she treats him versus her daughter, which makes the daughter feel even less valued. Back in the hotel room, the daughter dyes the mother’s hair. During the process, the mother notices a tattoo on the daughter’s arm and immediately scolds her for being disobedient, saying the tattoo has ruined her. Daughter fires back and recalls an incident five years earlier when a relative humiliated her while the mother looked on coldly, asking why she can never gain her mother’s acceptance. Faced with the daughter’s questions, the mother finally speaks, admitting her past regret and saying that if it happened now, she would stand up to protect her daughter.

The next day they stroll the streets; when the mother’s shoes are uncomfortable, they swap shoes. While resting on the beach, a young man asks the daughter for her number; the mother steps in to block him and tells him the daughter prefers women.

At the end of the trip, daughter drives mother home. Before getting out, the daughter hands her mother the key to her own home, then drives off alone—signaling that she has opened her heart and is letting her mother into her life.

Directed by Kar Wuen Wan (Hong Kong)

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