Movies and Music in A Summer's End – Hong Kong 1986

The purpose of this guide is to act as a reference to the music, movies, and actors mentioned in A Summers End – Hong Kong 1986.

Introduction

Throughout the game several conversations are had involving real films and music artists. Some of these are for flavor and authenticity of the setting, but I feel many of them also help to tell us important things about the characters as well. I don't speculate on topics of what these references say about character motivations, etc. (Too big brain for a college dropout like me) My hope is that having it all in one location will make it easier to read about the references and draw some of your own conclusions about how they relate to the game.

I have collected all the references I can find in the game and put them here with Wikipedia links and Youtube videos for the music.

**This guide does effectively contains spoilers** in that:

1. When the references from the game are mentioned, I use the direct quotes from the game.
   
2. I have some personal notes listed and some of those notes may be considered spoilers.
   
3. I describe the scene in which the lines containing the references are spoken

Who is this guide for? I made it for myself really. But I figured that maybe a few people who played through the game might not have noticed these references. Either didn’t know the game was referencing real world things, or maybe just didn’t take the time to look into them while they were playing and forgot.

While playing the game I knew nothing of the people and films referenced from Southeast Asian culture. Yet, I understood almost all references to western media. My motivation behind gathering information for this guide was to read and have fun learning about something new. Please note that I am not much a cinema-phile, I have never been to Hong Kong, and I didn’t grow up in Southeast Asia, so I’m probably not the best person to discuss any details pertaining to these references. If you can elaborate on any of these references please do so in the comments!!!

I do speculate on very few things in the NOTES sections below dialogue quotes.
I hope that Oracle & Bone or anyone else might shed light on some of these things for me.

[The Music & the Artists]

This section of the guide covers all the music and artists mentioned by Sam and Michelle throughout the game.

The references to music in this list appear in the same order they did in the game.

Sam's Mixtape

Sam shows Michelle her Walkman and mixtape while the two are eating dinner.

On the cassette label was a handwritten playlist

Michelle:
I didn't recognize the names of the musicians other than Anita Mui and Deanie Ip
I saw she had the names of English artists written down, but I didn't know who they were.

Cassette Tape (Side A)
梅艷芳(Anita Mui) - 夢伴(Dream Partner) - Album 壞女孩(Bad Girl)(1985)
葉德嫻(Deanie Ip) - 輕輕嘆(Sigh Gently) - Album 星塵(Stardust)(1981)
Teresa C.(Teresa Caprio)(杜麗莎) - When I'll see you again - Album Teresa Caprio (1975)
Dionne (Dionne Warwick) - Just Being Myself - Album You're Gonna Need Me (1973)
Chic - I Want Your Love - Album C'est Chic (1978)
Diana R. (Diana Ross) - The Boss - Album The Boss (1979)

Cassette Tape (Side A)
梅艷芳(Anita Mui)[en.wikipedia.org] - 夢伴(Dream Partner)

葉德嫻(Deanie Ip)[en.wikipedia.org] - 輕輕嘆(Sigh Gently)

Teresa C.(Teresa Carpio)(杜麗莎)[en.wikipedia.org] - When I'll see you again

Dionne (Dionne Warwick)[en.wikipedia.org] - Just Being Myself

Chic[en.wikipedia.org] - I Want Your Love

Diana R. (Diana Ross)[en.wikipedia.org] - The Boss

NOTES: My thoughts were the exact opposite of Michelle’s. I knew the English artists on the tape but had no idea about the others. Also, funkiest bassline in disco with “I Want Your Love” by Chic
NOTES: Will Oracle & Bone tell us what is on Side B??? :)

See the section "Sam's Favorite Song" for more game related information for the song 輕輕嘆(Sigh Gently).

Michelle’s Name

While eating dinner together on the evening they met, the two discuss each other’s English names.

Michelle:
It was my father who suggested that name to me. He said it was from an English song.
I thought it sounded nice.
Sam:
Oh! Hm...
Isn't that from a famous song? I might have the record somewhere.

NOTES: My guess is that Michelle's late father might have been a Beatles fan and this might be the song they are referring to. The Beatles visited Hong Kong in 1964 and played at the Princess Theatre in Kowloon. "Michelle" is a song by The Beatles from the album Rubber Soul(1965).

Beatles[en.wikipedia.org]

Rubber Soul[en.wikipedia.org]

Dinner and Music

While eating dinner together on the evening the met, the two discuss musical tastes.

Michelle:
I like artists like... Tsai Chin and Teresa Teng
...
Michelle:
I also like Anita Mui
Sam:
Is that so?
I love Anita Mui
...
Michelle:
I've been following her since she won the New Talent competition

Tsai Chin[en.wikipedia.org]

Teresa Teng[en.wikipedia.org]

Anita Mui[en.wikipedia.org]

New Talent Singing Awards[en.wikipedia.org]

Sam's Favorite Song

When Michelle waited in Sam's Apartment while her blouse was being cleaned, Sam played a song for Michelle.

She had me sit on her bed while I waited.
I saw from the cover jacket that it was a Deanie Ip record.
...
I think it was a Cantonese cover of an English song.
"Sighing softly... Break my heart"
...
Michelle:
The song you played earlier...
Could you play it again? I kind of like it.
Sam:
Of course! It's my favorite song.

NOTES: I think this song is "輕輕嘆 (Sigh Gently)” from the Deanie Ip album Stardust (1981). It is also on the mixtape Sam had when they first ate together on the night they met.
Michelle mentions she believes it's a Cantonese cover of an English song. The original song covered is "Sexy Eyes" by Dr. Hook from the album Sometimes You Win (1979)

See the section "Sam's Mixtape" for Deanie Ip information and to hear the song 輕輕嘆(Sigh Gently).

Dr Hook[en.wikipedia.org] - Sexy Eyes

Sometimes You Win[en.wikipedia.org]

[The Movies & The stars]

Why do I think any of these are important? Sam mentions a comment to her father during one of the REW flashback scenes.

While speaking to her father outside his shoe repair store, she states that the videos her store sells are carefully curated by her. She's not selling movies that are popular and going to make her the most money. She is selling films that she feels have an important message, or are otherwise important to her. Because of this casual banter with her father, and later mentions of her love of cinema, I believe we are supposed to know or look into what these films are. So naturally, looking at the posters and movies in her store could tell us a bit more about Sam.

The references to films in this list appear in the same order they did in the game.

Peach Child

The day after Michelle’s slipper incident, when Joey is introduced.

Joey:
Hey, has anyone said that you look a bit like Momoko Kikuchi?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momoko_Kikuchi

Momoko Kikuchi[en.wikipedia.org]

Diamond Videos

While Michelle is visiting Sam's movie store the first time.

Michelle:
Sam also had a section of classic Hollywood films such as Sound of Music and Casablanca
I remember I watched some of these films with my mother when I was younger.

The films looked quite old and pre-dated even the films I watched with my mother.
I struggled to pronounce the titles of some of them. Mädchen in Uniform. What language was this one?

The Sound of Music[en.wikipedia.org]

Casablanca[en.wikipedia.org]

IMAGE1: On the wall in Sam's video store is a poster for Mädchen in Uniform(1931).
Mädchen in Uniform[en.wikipedia.org]

---

IMAGE2: Taped to the desk in Sam's video store is a poster for the movie 女人心 (Women)(1985)
女人心 (Women)[en.wikipedia.org]

---

IMAGE3: Taped on a counter in Sam's video store is a poster for the well-known Ghibli film 天空之城 (Castle in the Sky)(1986)
天空之城 (Castle in the Sky)[en.wikipedia.org]

NOTES: Is this an anachronism? Michelle had the fight with her mother in September 1986?. Wiki says Castle in the Sky film premiered in Hong Kong in 1987. But it's just a poster. Maybe just a promotional poster.

Traditional Tastes

Michelle talking about movies her mother likes in Sam's store.

Michelle:
My mother really liked the movie, The Dream of the Red Chamber.
Sam:
Which version did she like?
Michelle:
I think the one with Brigitte Lin.
Sam:
Is she a fan of Brigitte Lin? I have a lot of her other movies.
Michelle:
No, not really. I don’t think she particularly likes her movies.
Sam:
Eh? She's the biggest superstar of Taiwan and Hong Kong!
Michelle:
My mother isn't up to date with celebrity trends.
She was and will always be a fan of Yam Kim-Fai.
...
Sam:
My mother was a fan too.
Yam is quite a popular figure, isn't she?
Has she watched The Purple Hairpin?
Michelle:
Definitely
I'm sure she'll watch it again though
I'll get a copy

NOTES: There are several screen adaptations of the story The Dream of the Red Chamber. The adaptation starring Brigitte Lin was made in 1977.

Brigitte Lin[en.wikipedia.org]

Dream of the Red Chamber[en.wikipedia.org]

NOTES: The Legend of the Purple Hairpin(紫釵記)(Zi chai ji) is originally a Cantonese Opera. The film adaptation made in 1959 stars Yam Kim-Fai.

Yam Kim-Fai[en.wikipedia.org]

Film Parallel to Life I

In reference to the black and white silent film playing on the TV in Sam's store

Sam:
This film is one of Ruan Lingyu's strongest performances.
New Women
Michelle:
Ruan Lingyu?
I don't think I've heard of her.
Sam:
She also went by the English name, Lily Yuen
She was a silent film star in Shanghai during the 1930s.
...

Later after Michelle has watched the film

Michelle:
The main character...
She struggled every moment in the film to be accepted as an equal in society.
She struggled until everything was taken away from her.
Everything she did almost felt like it was done in vain.
It was a very depressing movie.

NOTES: This film New Women(1935) is available on Youtube with english subtitles. Other films staring Ruan Lingyu are also on the same Youtube Channel. The Channel is run by Department of Asian Studies of the University of British Columbia.

See the section "Film Parallels Life II" for Sam and Michelle's conversation related to Ruan Lingyu and the film New Women.

Ruan Lingyu[en.wikipedia.org]

New Women[en.wikipedia.org]

New Women w/ English Subtitles on Youtube

A Black & White Japanese Film

While Michelle was waiting in Sam's video store to return Sam's shirt

Michelle:
Sam had left a movie in the VHS player
I watched part of it. It was almost near the end.
It was a black and white Japanese film about a young woman who was pressured by everyone in her family to marry.
After much resistance, she eventually decides on marrying an older widowed man.
That's how the film ends.

NOTES: This sounds like the film 晩春 (Late Spring)(1949) but I'm not entirely sure. Though I've lived in Japan my ability to read Japanese is almost non-existent. Therefore my search for this film was limited to only English sources. It might have been Late Spring based on the themes of the film. There are several metaphors for Michelle's life paths throughout the game. While this is almost certainly one of them, I don't know if it's based on an actual film or not.

Late Spring[en.wikipedia.org]

Dorae ~meow~

When Michelle begins talking about sunscreen and bug spray at the beach

Sam:
That's amazing Michelle.
Your bag is like Doraemeow's (Doraemon) magic pocket

Doraemon[en.wikipedia.org]

Film Parallel to Life II

As the sun set on the beach, Sam and Michelle talk about Ruan Lingyu and the film New Women.

Michelle:
I watched that movie I got from you the other day.
Sam:
Oh! how did you find it?
Michelle:
It's interesting...
It's different from other movies I've watched.
Sam:
I see. Did you like it?
Michelle:
...
I liked it.
Sam:
I'm glad.
It's a pretty heavy movie to watch, I have to say.
...
And it's even more terrible to know that the real actress experienced something similar in her life and was met with her own tragedy.
...
That's why we have to be sensitive and empathetic, even when others aren't.
And we have to be hopeful.
I'd like to think things are a little better now than they were then.
Ruan left a spectacular legacy
...
Are we respecting Ruan by keeping her films and watching them?
Even if those films might have been produced during the most painful moments of her life?

See the section "Film Parallels Life I" for Sam and Michelle's thoughts related to the film New Women.

Bruce Lee

When Sam and her father are talking about her video store

Mr. Wong:
You’re in the tourist area.
How about getting in those dubbed versions of Bruce Lee movies?

Bruce Lee[en.wikipedia.org]

Charlie's Angel

Sam and Cecilia eating together during the flashback REW

Young Sam:
It's like I'm dining with an angel!
Cecilia:
An angel?
Young Sam:
You look like a Charlie's Angel!
Your hairstyle is just like Farrah Fawcett's.
It's like the real Farrah is in front of me.

Farrah Fawcett[en.wikipedia.org]

Charlie's Angel[en.wikipedia.org]

Desert Hearts

Sam and Michelle trying out clothes on Michelle’s day off

Sam:
Well, I was going for the folk look.
Michelle:
What?
Sam:
Like a cowgirl from the American wild west
Michelle:
Like Patti Page
Sam:
Not exactly.
I was thinking Cay Rivvers.
Michelle:
Eh? Who?

Patti Page[en.wikipedia.org]

NOTES: Cay Rivvers is a reference to a character in the film Desert Hearts(1985) played by Patricia Charbonneau.

Patricia Charbonneau[en.wikipedia.org]

Desert Hearts[en.wikipedia.org]

Olivia

After Michelle moves in with Sam

Michelle:
Her store was getting busier, and she finally gave into the advice of hiring someone to help her out at the store.
It has given her more time to work on her personal projects with film archival.
This past week she was able to get a local theatre to screen an older French film, Olivia.
I had a classmate who studied French, so we were able to put together the subtitles for it.

Olivia[en.wikipedia.org]

Michelle's Favorite Film

Also after Michelle moves in with Sam

Michelle:
There’s another movie that I watched with Sam that I quite like by the name of Carousel.
I’ve cried just about every time I’ve watched it.
I had asked Sam to put it on so much, she said the tape could wear out any day now.
I think she just doesn’t want to watch it anymore with me though.

Carousel[en.wikipedia.org]

Little Cream

After Michelle and Sam decide to take care of the kitten

It was decided. We were going to take care of her.
We named her, “Little Cream.”
Sam picked that name for her after a cartoon character we saw on TV.

NOTES: Unsure if the kitten’s name is based on a real cartoon. Any ideas?

Cantonese Opera Singer

When Michelle’s mother tells Sam that she looks familiar

Sam:
My mother used to be an opera actress quite a number of years ago
She wasn't that well known then, but people that know of her say that I look quite like her.
...
Michelle:
What's that again about your mother being a theatre actress?
You never mentioned that to me before.
Sam:
Oh, that? It never really came up in conversation.
Michelle:
Where did she perform?
Sam:
She was a travelling Cantonese opera singer for many years.
Though her dream was to become a film actress.
She did end up starring in a few films in the 50s

NOTES: Who was Sam’s mother? Is this just fiction? Are Sam or her mother styled from somebody real. Its sudden mention at the end makes me wonder. Any ideas?

Conclusion

The love Oracle & Bone have for Hong Kong and Southeast Asian culture is on full display in this game. The maturity and grace with which it handles all of its characters and subject matter is something I don’t often seen in video games. The story, characters, UI, music, and the art (my goodness the art) were lovingly created by this team and I believe this is something very special. Playing the game again, after looking into these films and listening to the music, takes my appreciation of the game to another level. A Summer’s End – Hong Kong 1986 is an absolute gem and I hope we can see more from this team.

If you have any information to add, or if I’ve missed something please let me know in the comments.

[VelvetThundR]

It's amazing that you've referenced everything perfectly and explained what they are for us to understand. However, this has nothing to do with Southeast Asian culture as you've stated. They're all Chinese (East Asian). Completely different.

[AN]

When I saw Madchen in Uniform in Sam's store, I knew this game is authentic and lit in its own way!

[Kadh2000]

I don't know how I missed this. I'm glad you decided to share it. It really does show how much the creators cared about the game and the city. Thank you.

[Nyko]

Absolutely amazing work! Thank you for putting this together. I was making a short list as I was going through this game for the nth time, but it was nowhere as comprehensive as yours!

[InsaneBase]

Thank you very much!

[⛧ S (OFF AIR)]

nossa, incrivel pesquisa, muito detalhista. amei conhecer mais essas referências no jogo.

[Cammy]

Very impressive work, thank you very much for sharing all this research with us! Great guide!

[bminty]

Oh wow this is so amazing! It’s so well organized also. Thank you for making this!!!

[avargas130]

You are absolutely awesome for making this! I definitely dont have the patience personally but always appreciate being able to find song and movie references to expand my cultural knowledge

[♫Chibi-Alien]

@oraclenandbone: Thanks goes to you for creating something so wonderful and interesting. And thank you for taking the time to read the guide and answer my questions!!