Canadian Premiere
The directorial debut of screenwriter Ho Miu-Ki (The Mermaid) is a clever catfish comedy starring Sandra Ng as the middle-aged victim of an elaborate online con game. Swept away by the possibility of love, Veronica flirts online with a man she thinks is Alain Jeunet, a handsome, charming Frenchman. Little does she know that her virtual beau is actually Joe Lee (Cheung Tin-Fu), a rookie scam artist with just enough of a conscience to feel conflicted about his crimes…
Cynical yet vivacious, Love Lies calls to mind Billy Wilder films like The Apartment—as in that consummate rom-com, satire, and romance are perfectly balanced here. Ho knowingly suggests that deception and fantasy are integral to falling in love. As the grouchy but optimistic Veronica, Sandra Ng gives a radiant performance, and Cheung is excellent as the con man who gets caught up in his own conceit. The supporting cast shines as well, with especially stellar turns from Chan Fai-Hung as arch-criminal Mr. White and Stephy Tang as his exuberant, vamp-ish underling, Joan.
Supported by
Media Partner
Sandra Ng, Cheung Tin-Fu, Stephy Tang, Chan Fai-Hung, Cheung Kam-Ching
Hong Kong
2024
In Cantonese with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Producer
Chan Hing Kai, Janet Chun
Screenwriter
Ho Miu Ki, Chan Hing Kai
Cinematography
Tam Wai Kai
Editor
To To
Production Design
Alex Mok
Original Music
Day Tai
Ho Miu-Ki 何妙祺
Ho Miu-Ki started working as a screenwriter in 2008, writing films such as La Comédie Humaine (2010), Naked Ambition 2 (2014), and The Mermaid (2016), which was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards. Love Lies is her directorial debut.
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Hockney
An engaging, insightful and inspiring film portrait of the late great British and California artist. He’s one of the most accessible figurative painters of the last half century, but look closer, there’s much more to David Hockney than meets the eye.
Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
A chart topping pop star as one half of Peter and Gordon, Peter Asher was brother to Jane, brother in law to Paul McCartney, ran the Beatles' Apple, produced and managed James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and 10,000 Maniacs, to name just a few. He did it all.
The Crying Game
Notwithstanding its famous twist, Neil Jordan's moody thriller works differently on a second viewing, and hits different in 2026, with its rich and "problematic" stew of identity politics, love, violence and desire.
Romería
An orphan from a young age, 18-year-old Marina intends to pursue a university scholarship. The application, however, requires the signatures of her paternal grandparents, compelling her to embark on a pilgrimage and seek out the family she has never met.
