Hong Kong drama “A Simple Life” swept the board Saturday at the Golden Horse Film Awards -- known as the Chinese-language Oscars — with gongs for best picture, director, actor and actress. “I want to thank director Ann Hui and Andy Lau for giving me this opportunity to play so I can be so lucky in my old days,” Hong Kong actress Deanie Ip, who took the Best Actress award, told the crowd at a gala ceremony in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan. Ip, 64, played a servant who wants to move into a nursing home after suffering a stroke in “A Simple Life”, a role that also won her the best actress award at September's Venice film festival. Hui was crowned best director and Lau best actor for the film, based on the true story of veteran Hong Kong film producer Roger Lee. “I am very happy to win -- I hope I won't have a stroke,” joked Hui, who saw off popular Taiwanese director Wei Te-sheng and Chinese veteran Jiang Wen. However, as Lau collected his award he said Hong Kong's film industry was at a low point and he hoped it would pick up to emulate Taiwan. __
