A 20-year romance bridges Beijing and Macao

The upcoming film Promise of Decades, which pays tribute to the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, will be released simultaneously on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao on Saturday.

Spanning 20 years, beginning with the return in 1999, this bittersweet romance follows the journey of a young couple — the daughter of a small restaurant owner and a college student in Beijing. They meet by chance while purchasing movie DVDs and fall for each other. Throughout the film, they navigate life's challenges and eventually find solace in a joyous reunion at Guia Lighthouse, a landmark in Macao.

Directed by Macao filmmaker Tracy Choi, the film stars Sichuan province-born actor Ci Sha as the student, Laurinda Ho Chiu-lin — daughter of the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho — as the female protagonist, and Hong Kong veteran actor Eric Tsang as the restaurant owner.

The film premiered at a downtown Beijing theater on Dec 11. Producer Cheung Ka-fai said the film's two-decade span is intentionally crafted to evoke shared memories among a generation of Chinese audiences.

Actor Ci recalled that filming the movie marked his first trip to Macao where he was drawn to the local scenery. Actress Ho expressed her hope that the film would help more Chinese mainland audiences learn about the culture and delicacies of Macao.