Echoes of the Rainbow 2010

Set in late 1960s Hong Kong, the film follows the Law family—Mr. Law, Mrs. Law, and their two sons, Desmond Law Chun-yat and Law Chun-yi—who live in a small shoe shop on Wing Lee Street in Sheung Wan. Desmond is the elder brother and a standout student: he earns top grades, is a gifted musician, and shines as a champion runner at the prestigious Diocesan Boys’ School, beloved by classmates and teachers. He also has a girlfriend, Flora, who comes from an affluent family.

Flora’s family eventually immigrates from Hong Kong to the United States, a move that coincides with a decline in Desmond’s academic performance and school life. As Desmond faces growing pressure, he becomes aware of the sharper edges of Hong Kong society—through encounters with a cocky British policeman who extorts money from his father in exchange for keeping the family shop, and who proclaims that Desmond will never be successful because his English isn’t good enough. These moments illuminate the social inequalities surrounding him, and the contrast between Desmond’s potential and the world around him becomes more pronounced when Flora’s departure destabilizes the family’s routine.

After Flora returns from abroad, Desmond’s health deteriorates. He collapses and is diagnosed with leukemia, sending his parents on a desperate search for care. In the hospital, he endures harsh treatment from nurses who opportunistically extract money for basic care, highlighting further the vulnerabilities faced by the family. Chun-yi, who loves his brother and spends much of his time stealing trinkets around town, tries to lift Desmond’s spirits by offering small gifts, but Desmond does not accept them.

Flora visits Desmond in the hospital and the two share a first kiss, a fleeting moment of happiness before the illness overwhelms him. Desmond passes away, leaving a space in the family and in Chun-yi’s life that his younger brother will carry forward. Years later, Chun-yi, now a teenager, narrates the story and remarks that time is the greatest thief.

time is the greatest thief

In the final scenes, Chun-yi and their mother visit Desmond’s grave. The film closes with Chun-yi recounting a lesson Desmond had taught him about double rainbows, a memory that gives his childhood innocence a lasting, if bittersweet, resonance.