The Drive of Life () 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 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,BlogGang.com as a fictional brand name "Hua-Zhe". 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.
Synopsis 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.
Cast
Main cast Wah family CastRoleDescriptionDamian Lau Wah Man-hon華文翰 Age 52 to 65Wah 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 60Wah Ching-yu and Wah Chun-bong's mother.Wah Man-hon's wifeJessica Hsuan Wah Ching-yu華清瑜 Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's daughterNgai Wing-biu's girlfriend later wifeWah Chun-bong's elder sisterRaymond Lam Wah Chun-bong華振邦 Age 27 to 40Wah Man-hon and Hui Chaam-yan's sonFong Bing-yi's ex-boyfriend.Wing Sau-fung's boyfriend later husbandWah Ching-yu's younger brotherLiao Jingsheng Wah Man-hung華文鴻 Age 48 to 60Feng Shaofeng Wah Chun-man華振民 Age 24 to 37 Fong Bin-yi's husbandMichael Miu Wah Man-sek華文碩 Age 42 to 55Sheren Tang Wang Siu-fun汪紹芬 Age 38 to 51Toby Leung Wah Ching-lam華清琳 Age 18 to 31Lau Kong Wang Ching-kwok汪政國 Age 65Power Chan Wang Siu-leung汪紹良 Age 34 to 47
Ng family CastRoleDescriptionBenz 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
Wing family CastRoleDescriptionWong 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
Fong family CastRoleDescriptionLai 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
Other cast
Hua-Zhe Automobiles 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 Wong Wai-tak as Matthew Tsang Wai-wan as researcher Wong Ka-yi as secretary Gregory Rivers as R&D group leader 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 Wilson Tsui as employee
Kwok Wai Steel 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 Investment Rocky Cheng as Rocky Rachel Kan as Ngai Tin-hang's secretary
Bedding & Pillow Company So Yun-chi as Mrs Cheung Law Ho-kai as Mr Go
Canadian associates 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 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 The Sky is Blue (天這樣藍) Lyrics: Sandy Chang Composition and Arrangement: Joseph Koo Performance: Hacken Lee and Steve Chou
Viewership ratings WeekEpisodeAverage PointsPeaking PointsReferencesJuly 16–20, 20071 — 5Week 1 RatingsJuly 23–27, 20076 — 10Week 2 RatingsJuly 30 - August 3, 200711 — 15Week 3 RatingsAugust 6–10, 200716 — 20Week 4 RatingsAugust 13–17, 200721 — 25Week 5 RatingsAugust 20–24, 200726 — 30Week 6 RatingsAugust 27–31, 200731 — 35Week 7 RatingsSeptember 3–7, 200736 — 40Week 8 RatingsSeptember 10–14, 200741 — 45Week 9 RatingsSeptember 17–21, 200746 — 50Week 10 RatingsSeptember 24–28, 200751 — 55Week 11 RatingsOctober 1–5, 200756 — 60Week 12 Ratings
Awards and nominations 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
External links TVB.com The Drive of Life - Official Website CCTV Official Site The Drive of Life K for TVB.net The Drive of Life - Episodic Synopsis and Screen Captures Episode Analysis