An Abandoned Team (also known as Alone No More; Chinese: 得寵先生 or earlier 狗轉人生) is a 2024 Hong Kong drama film directed by Tomas Lee Chi-wai and Daniel Ho Ying-ngai, and starring Lawrence Cheng, Amy Lo, Jay Fung, and Bonnie Wong. The film was produced by Media Asia Film and One Cool Film Production, with a HK$4 million investment from the Hong Kong Film Development Fund.
Plot
The story follows Uncle Gai (Lawrence Cheng), a 60-year-old hot-tempered loner living in isolation after a failed marriage and a strained relationship with his daughter. Following his retirement, he becomes overwhelmed by despair and decides to end his life in the mountains. He is discovered by a stray dog named Roast Piggy, who leads animal rescue volunteer Una (Amy Lo) to find and save him. Initially averse to dogs, Uncle Gai gradually changes his perspective and begins volunteering at Una's animal shelter, finding new purpose in caring for abandoned animals. He also attempts to repair his relationship with his daughter, until a tragedy strikes.
Cast
- Lawrence Cheng as Uncle Gai
- Amy Lo as Una, an animal volunteer
- Jay Fung as Chung Man, Una's boyfriend
- Bonnie Wong as Toby, a veterinary nurse
- Fish Liew as Gai's daughter
- Ben Yuen as Master Sek
- Patra Au as Una's mother
- The dog "Little" as Roast Piggy
Release
The film premiered on 7 November 2024 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and was released theatrically in Hong Kong and Macau on 28 November 2024. It has a running time of 107 minutes and is in Cantonese.
Reception
Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a corny but wholesome story about a cantankerous old man whose bond with a dog opens a door to more new connections." Cath Clarke of The Guardian also gave 3 out of 5 stars, calling it "a conventional heart-tugger" that makes a point about social isolation among older people. Keith Ho of HK01 considered the film uplifting and heartwarming, praising the performance of the dog actor Little.
Awards and nominations
At the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards (2025), Tomas Lee and Daniel Ho were nominated for Best New Director.
