The Drive of Life (traditional Chinese: 歲月風雲; simplified Chinese: 岁月风云; pinyin: Suìyuè Fēngyún) is a 2007 grand production drama by TVB and CCTV as a joint production. It was specially filmed to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong back to China from Britain during the period of 1997-2007.

The Drive of Life
Official poster
歲月風雲
GenreModern Drama
(Grand Production)
Written byAu Koon-ying
StarringDamian Lau
Liao Jingsheng
Michael Miu
Joe Ma
Charmaine Sheh
Jessica Hsuan
Raymond Lam
Sheren Tang
Feng Shaofeng
Myolie Wu
Ron Ng
Toby Leung
Opening themeSui Yuet Fung Wan (歲月風雲) performed by Hacken Lee and Chou Chuan-huing
Ending themeTroika (Russian Folk Song)
Country of originHong Kong
China
Original languagesCantonese
Mandarin
No. of episodes60 (TVB)
58 (CCTV)
Production
ProducersTommy Leung
Poon Ka Tak
Running time45 minutes per episode
Original release
NetworkTVB (Jade)
CCTV (CCTV 1/CCTV 8)
Release16 July (2007-07-16) –
5 October 2007 (2007-10-05)

The theme of the series revolves around the automobile industry in China. Told in flashback from 1994, the ups and downs and transformations that Hong Kong has been experiencing before and after the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong is used as a narrative device. The series was filmed in Hong Kong, Beijing, Ningbo and Vancouver from early October 2006 until May 2007. The automobiles featured in the series are from Geely Automobile,[1] as a fictional brand name "Hua-Zhe".[1] This stars "TVB Best Actress" winners Charmaine Sheh, Jessica Hsuan, Myolie Wu and Sheren Tang who won their respective "Best Actress" awards in 2006/2014, 1999, 2011, and 2009/2010.

Astro On Demand, Astro's video on demand service, starts with the series premiere.[2]

Synopsis

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Wah Man-hon, Wah Man-hung and Wah Man-shek were all born in Beijing. As a result of the massive political upheaval and the profound misunderstanding among them, the three brothers have fallen out and now live separately in Hong Kong, Beijing and Vancouver respectively.

Man-hon's business goes down the pan in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis. The only saving grace is that members of the Wah family from around the world, including Man-hon's son Wah Chun-bong and Hung's son Wah Chun-man, can finally put their prejudice aside and become reconciled with one another. To realize the century-old dream of the family, they decide to work together to develop the local automobile industry.

After ten years of struggle, the Wahs have established its own brand of automobile – a brand the whole Chinese nation is proud of. They make a significant and ongoing contribution to China's automobile industry for they believe that only cars of our own will take us to a better future.

Cast

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Main cast

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Wah family

Cast Role Description
Damian Lau Wah Man-hon
華文翰
Age 52 to 65
Wah Ching-yu and Wah Chun-bong's father.
Hui Chaam-yan's husband.
Wah Man-hung and Wah Man-sek's elder brother.
Gigi Wong Hui Chaam-yan
許湛恩
Age 47 to 60
Wah Ching-yu and Wah Chun-bong's mother.Wah Man-hon's wife
Jessica Hsuan Wah Ching-yu
華清瑜
Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's daughter
Ngai Wing-biu's girlfriend later wife
Wah Chun-bong's elder sister
Raymond Lam Wah Chun-bong
華振邦
Age 27 to 40
Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's son
Fong Bing-yi's ex-boyfriend.
Wing Sau-fung's boyfriend later husband
Wah Ching-yu's younger brother
Liao Jingsheng Wah Man-hung
華文鴻
Age 48 to 60
Feng Shaofeng Wah Chun-man
華振民
Age 24 to 37 Fong Bin-yi's husband
Michael Miu Wah Man-sek
華文碩
Age 42 to 55
Sheren Tang Wang Siu-fun
汪紹芬
Age 38 to 51
Toby Leung Wah Ching-lam
華清琳
Age 18 to 31
Lau Kong Wang Ching-kwok
汪政國
Age 65
Power Chan Wang Siu-leung
汪紹良
Age 34 to 47
Wang Ching-kwok
Hui Chaam-yanWah Man-honWah Man-hungWah Man-shekWang Siu-funWang Siu-leung
Wah Ching-yueWah Chun-bongWah Chun-manWah Ching-lam

Ng family

Cast Role Description
Benz Hui Ngai Ling-tai
危令泰
Mary Hon Lo Ho-yuet
盧皓月
Joe Ma Ngai Wing-biu
危永標
Age 27 to 40
Ron Ng Ngai Gai-keung
危介強
Age 20 to 33
Lawrence Ng Wai-kwok Ngai Tin-hang
危天行
Age 44 to 54
Ngai Tin-hangNgai Ling-taiLo Ho-yuet
Ngai Gai-keungNgai Wing-biu

Wing family

Cast Role Description
Wong Chik-sam Wing Sau-fung's father
Maggie Chan Wai Cheung-ping
衞長萍
Age 47 to 53
Charmaine Sheh Wing Sau-fung
榮秀風
Age 26 to 39
Wing Sau-fung's fatherWai Cheung-ping
Wing Sau-fung

Fong family

Cast Role Description
Lai Suen Ching Tai-tie
錢帶娣
Lee Kwok-lun Fong Yiu-chong
方耀忠
Myolie Wu Fong Bing-yi
方秉怡
Age 24 to 37
Jeffrey Wong
Ching Tai-tie
Fong Yiu-chong
Fong Bing-yi

Other cast

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Wah Git Automobile Corporation (Hua-Zhe)

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  • Jason Chan as Chai Hoi
  • Bruce Li as Po Gam
  • Henry Lo as Jung Dung
  • Felix Lok as Chan Jen Cheung
  • Ellesmere Choi as Ng Zhi-ming
  • Reyan Yan as So San
  • Ng Wai-shan as Ka Ling
  • Anita Kwan as Siu Man
  • Koo Ming-wa as Lo Hon
  • Anita Kwan as Siu Man
  • Adam Ip as employee
  • Martin Tong as employee
  • Jason Lam as employee
  • Steven Ho as employee
  • Candy Cheung as employee
  • Pauline Chow as employee
  • Jim Tang as employee
  • Wong Wai-tak as Matthew
  • Gregory Charles Rivers as R&D group leader
  • Tsang Wai-wan as researcher
  • Wong Ka-yi as secretary
  • Wilson Tsui

Kwok Wai Steel Corporation

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  • Kwong Chor-fai
  • Kong Hon
  • Joe Junior
  • Simon Lo
  • Kwok Tak-shun
  • Lee Hoi-sang
  • Leo Tsang
  • Chu Wai-tak
  • Tsui Wing
  • Siu Chuen-yung as Ho Kin

Sirius International Investment Corporation

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  • Rocky Cheng as Rocky
  • Rachel Kan as Ngai Tin-hang's secretary

Bedding & Pillow Company

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  • So Yun-chi as Mrs Cheung
  • Law Ho-kai as Mr Go

Canada & associates

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  • Ko Jun-man as Mr Kwan
  • Lee Gong-lung as Mr Chan
  • Billy Lam as detective
  • Lee Cheung-dou as Yuen Yiu-wai
  • Chan On-ying as Mrs Yuen
  • Joseph Yeung as psychologist

Others

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  • Michael Wong as Wai Lun
  • Zhao Ke as Lee Seen-sin
  • Angela Tong as Chi Chi
  • Leanne Li as Bo Wai
  • Deno Cheung as Lam Leung
  • Matthew Ko
  • Vivien Yeo as Carman
  • Annie Chung as car fan
  • Yeung Ying-wai as Peter
  • Henry Lee as bank executive
  • Cheng Ka-sang as Tai Tung Tat garage worker
  • Patrick Dunn as Lee Kai-fat
  • Ha Ping as Wah family's great aunty (ep22)
  • Yu Tze-ming as Wong Cheung
  • Lau Tin-lung as reporter
  • Meini Cheung as Kong Man
  • Leung Kin Ping as Mr Ma (ep32)
  • Chin Kar-lok as Chan Ka-lok (ep33-35)
  • Jo Jo as Cho Hung (ep35)
  • Tammy Ho
  • Siu Cheuk-hiu as Mr Cheung
  • Lee Tsi-kei as Muk Chuen
  • Ng Man-sang as interpreter
  • Winnie Shum
  • Jacky Yeung
  • Chan Yu-hei
  • Ho Jun-hin as stock broker
  • Kwok Fung as Sung Hok-li
  • Lee Fung
  • Law Kwan-chor
  • Candy Cheung
  • Peter Pang as jockey club staff
  • Lee Kai-kit as doctor
  • Wong Kei-sen as a signature specialist
  • Helena Wong

Theme song

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The Sky is Blue (天這樣藍)

Viewership ratings

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Week Episode Average Points Peaking Points References
1
July 16–20, 2007 1 — 5
31
33
[3]
2
July 23–27, 2007 6 — 10
29
32
[4]
3
July 30 - August 3, 2007 11 — 15
30
33
[5]
4
August 6–10, 2007 16 — 20
30
33
[6]
5
August 13–17, 2007 21 — 25
30
33
[7]
6
August 20–24, 2007 26 — 30
31
34
[8]
7
August 27–31, 2007 31 — 35
31
33
[9]
8
September 3–7, 2007 36 — 40
33
36
[10]
9
September 10–14, 2007 41 — 45
29
30
[11]
10
September 17–21, 2007 46 — 50
29
30
[12]
11
September 24–28, 2007 51 — 55
33
36
[13]
12
October 1–5, 2007 56 — 60
33
39
[14]

Awards and nominations

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40th TVB Anniversary Awards (2007)

  • "Best Drama"
  • "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Damian Lau) Top 5
  • "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Michael Miu)
  • "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Raymond Lam) Top 5
  • "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" (Ng Wai-kwok) Top 5
  • "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Gigi Wong) Top 5
  • "Best Actress in a Supporting Role" (Toby Leung)
  • "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Damian Lau)
  • "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Michael Miu)
  • "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Ng Wai-kwok)
  • "My Favourite Male Character Role" (Joe Ma)

References

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  1. ^ a b BlogGang.com
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2009-04-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Week 1 Ratings
  4. ^ Week 2 Ratings
  5. ^ Week 3 Ratings
  6. ^ Week 4 Ratings
  7. ^ Week 5 Ratings
  8. ^ Week 6 Ratings
  9. ^ Week 7 Ratings
  10. ^ Week 8 Ratings
  11. ^ Week 9 Ratings
  12. ^ Week 10 Ratings
  13. ^ Week 11 Ratings
  14. ^ Week 12 Ratings
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