Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Cherry (Theresa Lee - Big Bullet, Lunch With Charles) goes through pre-marriage routines with her since long boyfriend, now fiancee Wu (James Chan). When his twin brother Wen (Sean Chan, real life twin brother of James) joins the frey, Cherry unexpectedly sees a freedom in Wen that she doesn't seem to get within her stable relationship with Wu...

Hong Kong native Cecilia (Michelle Reis - Bakery Amour) struggles with economic pressures along with her long time boyfriend Nam (Alex Fong - One Nite In Mongkok). With him quickly losing hope, she gets a breakthrough when she lands a job in a bridal shop in Macau. Separated from Nam but reunited with a childhood friend Tung (David Wu - Full Throttle) begins her journey of questions and choices, ones amped to grave levels when she receives the news that she's pregnant without knowing whether Nam or Tung is the father...

Samson Chiu finally in this reviewer's eyes emerges as one of the underrated filmmakers of Hong Kong cinema with When I Fall In Love...With Both, a Derek Yee produced romantic drama containing the theme of having to choose between the two loves of your life or should you really choose at all? Chiu, most likely familiar to viewers as the director of the Golden Chicken movies proved with the solid What A Wonderful World back in 1996 that there existed a more mature frame of mind in the filmmaker but Chiu brings his stocks up to an all time high with this splendid 2000 production.

Threatening to only take When I Fall In Love...With Both sweet and generic places (which is not a bad thing), Chiu, co-writing with the author of the novel Siu Kwun Hung, logs a relentless speed to the development of the initial story set in Singapore. Characters meet, fall in love and the central choice is brought out after probably 15 minutes of screen time only! Chiu, Siu and producer Derek Yee are clearly opting for enough development throughout each story rather than to set everyone up and that is a choice that succeeds as the team never lets go of their character's issues, which turn out to be rather complex ones.

The structure only occasionally jumps back and forth between the women's stories and When I Fall In Love...With Both really are 3 mini-movies in one, sharing the same train of thoughts but thankfully each story strand stands out on its own and grows in what I like to call its simple complexity. Fann Wong and Peter Ho's segment remains straight, uncomplicated but here Chiu's sincerity behind the simplicity is greatly affecting. He also first plants the notion here of choosing between the man of secure status or the one that you love so much it hurts, a central theme that could've halted at shallow but nuances brought out in low-key performing and direction reveal that this very realistic issue has depth. The Hong Kong story brings up the same scenario but plays it out against the desires of fate while Chiu later in the largely set Macau segment celebrates the female individual strength and we're given hints that no choice may ultimately be done due to lack of responsibility on behalf of the males. Some economical struggles commentary sneaks in as per a million modern day Hong Kong dramas but never becomes bothersome as such. Also, after you've gotten over the fact that Joy, Cherry and Cecilia are magically sharing more or less the same predicament, you'll find a highly mature and affecting love stories within the film.

Samson Chiu is blessed with this being a Film Unlimited production (Derek Yee's company) and the strengths that Yee usually brings are apparent here as many elements are no doubt familiar but executed with a suitably low-key sensibility and sincerity. The kleenex might come in handy but not due to hysteric melodrama akin to Fly Me To Polaris but thanks to easily accessible character arcs that also easily register emotionally. With an ensemble cast of those slightly below A-level, Chiu further enhances his desired depth and realism as well.

Reuniting Fann Wong and Peter Ho (who both starred in Derek Yee's The Truth About Jane & Sam the year before) reveals their still strong chemistry as a romantic screen duo while Theresa Lee's cutesy behaviour combined with her internal struggles of having to decide which twin to be with is a further testament to her delightful screen presence (Big Bullet not included), one that's sorely missed. However Michelle Reis emerges as the true standout here with a subtle performance, definitely the most challenging in the film. Being part of a relationship that never seems to emerge from the rubble of poverty, she gains strength of her own, especially in the light of both potential fathers resigning responsibility. It's the most harrowing story if you will but with Reis as his leading lady for this portion of the film, Chiu has his confidence in the subtle filmmaking style up high.

The supporting acts by David Wu and Alex Fong are equally integral, with the former being the most daring move casting-wise. Wu seems too eccentric for Reis to choose him as the needed security in her life but this bold move by Chiu and for sure Yee is a worthwhile one as Wu becomes a character that rarely gets a chance to shine in these movies, the nice, dorky one. Alex Fong is in tune with the lowly and self-humiliating Nam, handling melodrama in his trademark quiet way which makes the performance all the better.

Working for Derek Yee's Film Unlimited, Samson Chiu confidently brings what is to be expected from a movie bearing that production company logo. Well-meant, well-executed, increasingly complex but rooted in reality so anyone can relate to and be affected by the central theme of choosing love or security. You don't get this much well-honed instincts with romances these days. Savour it and Samson Chiu, you're welcome to make more films, despite the Golden Chicken films not reaching the gem level of When I Fall In Love...With Both.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Cherry (Theresa Lee - Big Bullet, Lunch With Charles) goes through pre-marriage routines with her since long boyfriend, now fiancee Wu (James Chan). When his twin brother Wen (Sean Chan, real life twin brother of James) joins the frey, Cherry unexpectedly sees a freedom in Wen that she doesn't seem to get within her stable relationship with Wu...

Hong Kong native Cecilia (Michelle Reis - Bakery Amour) struggles with economic pressures along with her long time boyfriend Nam (Alex Fong - One Nite In Mongkok). With him quickly losing hope, she gets a breakthrough when she lands a job in a bridal shop in Macau. Separated from Nam but reunited with a childhood friend Tung (David Wu - Full Throttle) begins her journey of questions and choices, ones amped to grave levels when she receives the news that she's pregnant without knowing whether Nam or Tung is the father...

Samson Chiu finally in this reviewer's eyes emerges as one of the underrated filmmakers of Hong Kong cinema with When I Fall In Love...With Both, a Derek Yee produced romantic drama containing the theme of having to choose between the two loves of your life or should you really choose at all? Chiu, most likely familiar to viewers as the director of the Golden Chicken movies proved with the solid What A Wonderful World back in 1996 that there existed a more mature frame of mind in the filmmaker but Chiu brings his stocks up to an all time high with this splendid 2000 production.

Threatening to only take When I Fall In Love...With Both sweet and generic places (which is not a bad thing), Chiu, co-writing with the author of the novel Siu Kwun Hung, logs a relentless speed to the development of the initial story set in Singapore. Characters meet, fall in love and the central choice is brought out after probably 15 minutes of screen time only! Chiu, Siu and producer Derek Yee are clearly opting for enough development throughout each story rather than to set everyone up and that is a choice that succeeds as the team never lets go of their character's issues, which turn out to be rather complex ones.

The structure only occasionally jumps back and forth between the women's stories and When I Fall In Love...With Both really are 3 mini-movies in one, sharing the same train of thoughts but thankfully each story strand stands out on its own and grows in what I like to call its simple complexity. Fann Wong and Peter Ho's segment remains straight, uncomplicated but here Chiu's sincerity behind the simplicity is greatly affecting. He also first plants the notion here of choosing between the man of secure status or the one that you love so much it hurts, a central theme that could've halted at shallow but nuances brought out in low-key performing and direction reveal that this very realistic issue has depth. The Hong Kong story brings up the same scenario but plays it out against the desires of fate while Chiu later in the largely set Macau segment celebrates the female individual strength and we're given hints that no choice may ultimately be done due to lack of responsibility on behalf of the males. Some economical struggles commentary sneaks in as per a million modern day Hong Kong dramas but never becomes bothersome as such. Also, after you've gotten over the fact that Joy, Cherry and Cecilia are magically sharing more or less the same predicament, you'll find a highly mature and affecting love stories within the film.

Samson Chiu is blessed with this being a Film Unlimited production (Derek Yee's company) and the strengths that Yee usually brings are apparent here as many elements are no doubt familiar but executed with a suitably low-key sensibility and sincerity. The kleenex might come in handy but not due to hysteric melodrama akin to Fly Me To Polaris but thanks to easily accessible character arcs that also easily register emotionally. With an ensemble cast of those slightly below A-level, Chiu further enhances his desired depth and realism as well.

Reuniting Fann Wong and Peter Ho (who both starred in Derek Yee's The Truth About Jane & Sam the year before) reveals their still strong chemistry as a romantic screen duo while Theresa Lee's cutesy behaviour combined with her internal struggles of having to decide which twin to be with is a further testament to her delightful screen presence (Big Bullet not included), one that's sorely missed. However Michelle Reis emerges as the true standout here with a subtle performance, definitely the most challenging in the film. Being part of a relationship that never seems to emerge from the rubble of poverty, she gains strength of her own, especially in the light of both potential fathers resigning responsibility. It's the most harrowing story if you will but with Reis as his leading lady for this portion of the film, Chiu has his confidence in the subtle filmmaking style up high.

The supporting acts by David Wu and Alex Fong are equally integral, with the former being the most daring move casting-wise. Wu seems too eccentric for Reis to choose him as the needed security in her life but this bold move by Chiu and for sure Yee is a worthwhile one as Wu becomes a character that rarely gets a chance to shine in these movies, the nice, dorky one. Alex Fong is in tune with the lowly and self-humiliating Nam, handling melodrama in his trademark quiet way which makes the performance all the better.

Working for Derek Yee's Film Unlimited, Samson Chiu confidently brings what is to be expected from a movie bearing that production company logo. Well-meant, well-executed, increasingly complex but rooted in reality so anyone can relate to and be affected by the central theme of choosing love or security. You don't get this much well-honed instincts with romances these days. Savour it and Samson Chiu, you're welcome to make more films, despite the Golden Chicken films not reaching the gem level of When I Fall In Love...With Both.

When I Fall in Love...with Both--which stars Hong Kong beauty Michelle Reis, underrated gem Theresa Lee and homegrown sweetheart Fann Wong while David Wu, Peter Ho, Alex Fong and James Lye provide the testosterone factor-dumps this age-old stereotype in the trash.

Under the direction of producer Derek Yee and director Samson Chiu Leung Chun, this Golden Harvest production highlights the lives of three completely different ladies of different nationalities (Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore), in their search for the perfect man to satisfy their needs.

Cruising along the male-hunt highway, they soon face the inevitable crossroads of having the need to choose between two men. The protagonists meet and become friends through an Internet chat room and find strength in each other as they confide their heartaches and dilemma.

Reis is torn between a long-time beau (Fong) and an old passionate schoolmate (Wu), after getting pregnant following a night of sex with the two parties. Lee has to decide on walking down the aisle with her strong macho boyfriend or his sensitive and gentle twin brother. Wong is paired up with Ho--a young and creative baker--who dishes up some emotional turmoil as she anguishes between him or her more reliable and mature boss Lye.