When Heaven Burns
When Heaven Burns | |
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![]() Promotional poster | |
Genre | Suspense drama |
Created by | Jonathan Chik |
Written by | Chow Yuk-ming |
Starring | Bowie Lam Moses Chan Kenny Wong Charmaine Sheh Angela Tong Maggie Shiu Astrid Chan Elaine Jin Chan Hung-lit Queenie Chu |
Opening theme | "天與地" (Heaven and Earth) by Paul Wong |
Ending theme | "年少無知" (Youthful Ignorance) by Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong |
Composer | Paul Wong |
Country of origin | Hong Kong |
Original languages | Cantonese, Mandarin |
No. of episodes | 30 |
Production | |
Producer | Jonathan Chik |
Running time | 45 minutes |
Production company | TVB |
Release | |
Original network | TVB Jade, HD Jade |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
Original release | 21 November 2011 1 January 2012 | –
External links | |
Website |
When Heaven Burns | |||
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Traditional Chinese | 天與地 | ||
Simplified Chinese | 天与地 | ||
Literal meaning | "Heaven and Earth" | ||
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When Heaven Burns is a 2011 Hong Kong television serial produced by TVB and starring Bowie Lam, Moses Chan, Kenny Wong, Charmaine Sheh and Angela Tong. First revealed during TVB's Sales Presentation 2009 in 2008, filming took place in late 2009 to early 2010, with the first episode airing both in Hong Kong and TVB's overseas affiliates and partners on 21 November 2011. On 27 December 2011, the show was blacklisted by the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, making it the first Hong Kong television drama to be censored in Mainland China in more than two decades.[1]
Despite being the second lowest-rated TVB drama of 2011, When Heaven Burns gained a strong cult following online and received critical acclaim in Hong Kong, winning Best Drama at the 2012 TVB Anniversary Awards.
Plot summary[]
Eighteen years after a tragic event drove them apart four friends reunite, and in coming to understand the strangers that they have become to each other and themselves, remember who they once were.
In their youth Joe (Bowie Lam), Angus (Moses Chan), Ronnie (Kenny Wong) and Ka Ming are good friends and bandmates. During a mountaineering trip, the four are stranded on a snow bound mountain. and Ka Ming was gravely injured and gets eaten by the other three. This event has a traumatic effect on them, their friendship, and their friendship with Yan (Charmaine Sheh), Ka Ming's girlfriend, leading the previously close group to go their separate ways and abandon their friendship.
Eighteen years later, Yan remains haunted by the memory of Ka Ming, trying to regain what she had with him in part with her husband and in part with her lover, but finding neither a complete replacement for her lost love breaks with them both. Troubled she loses track of time while alone in the wilderness, sparking a missing persons alert which becomes the catalyst for the four friends to meet again. Though she was Ka Ming's girlfriend all four bandmates were in love with her and the three survivors remain in love with her.
Of actions and choices there are consequences and the series ends with the authorities reserving the right to hold some one responsible for the unlicensed festival. The policeman investigating Ka Ming's death predicts that because they have broken a taboo each of the friends will suffer the comeuppance that karma demands, that Joe be imprisoned for financial fraud, that Ronnie be ostracised by his peers and go blind and asks of Angus what his comeuppance will be.
Learning that Yan has decided to leave Hong Kong and that she will no longer see the friends Angus predicts that his punishment will be that he will be lonely for the remainder of his life, never being able to be with the one woman who he has ever loved, the only woman he can ever love. Despite all his protestations that he is no longer a good person and that it is impossible for him to become one again, Joe cancels his contract to have Angus killed, and when faced with the sight of a child possibly being run over instinctively acts to save the child (revealed later to be also named Ka Ming), giving up his life in the process.
The script of "Heaven and Earth" describes the psychological changes of the protagonist in depth. Comment and analysis, the character Song Yilang in the play became rough and brutal after the bloody crime in the snow mountain, but his heart was very fragile; Liu Junxiong rushed around for the rights and interests of the labours, and undoubtedly he was a good person, but he will do anything that leave his principles behind when he faced with setbacks; Zheng Zhenxuan kills for survival, and then chooses to forget. Qi Qiyi, the producer, explained that the theme of "Heaven and Earth" is how the environment will change human nature, and different types of characters are discovered through the human nature presented by people in the play. Eating human is not the focus of the play: "The pressure of life, the social progress will drag you forward, if you can't keep up, you will only fall. Under huge pressure, people will do things that are even unexpected to them, maybe insidious, maybe cruel, after the end, different personality will also have different changes, which is what I wanted to discuss in "Heaven and Earth." Lin Baoyi believes that the three people in the play make different choices when facing crime, not only presenting a different outlook on life, but also providing the audience more room to think, and being able to savor the truth about human nature.
Many contents of "Heaven and Earth" also satirize Hong Kong society ill, bringing out the information of political gloom, social injustice and increasing simplification. For example, in the third episode, Liu Junxiong ’s trade union staff pointed out that large political parties used material advantages to attract supporters. In episode 6, Ye Zien satirized government officials as “human tape recorders”. In addition, there is also a lampoon on the quality of the members of the Legislative Council and the forgetful personality of Hong Kong people. The characters in the play lead to values such as free will, choice of rights, independent personality, and resistance to hegemony. The analysis indicates that the plot and dialogue reflect the public's dissatisfaction with the society and thus resonate with the audience.
Cast[]
The Lau family[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Bowie Lam Ronald Law (youth) |
Lau Chun Hung (Joe) 劉俊雄 |
An accountant/A trade union executive/A Legco candidate A band drummer Ma Wing Yee's husband Au Hoi Ching's love interest, later her lover Yip Chi Yan's admirer Sung Yee Long and Cheng Chun Hin's friend Au Hoi Ching's superior, later lover, finally broke up Yung Cheuk Wah's subordinate, later lover Killed and ate Hui Ka Ming |
43 |
Astrid Chan Joey Mak (youth) |
Ma Wing-yee (Gina) 馬詠儀 |
A nurse Lau Chun Hung's wife Ivan's mistress, later broke up |
41 |
The Yung family[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Elaine Jin | Yung Cheuk Wah (Brenda) 翁卓樺 |
Yung Cheuk Tung's older sister Pointed against Sung Yee Long Lau Chun Hung's superior, later mistress Died in a car accident in Episode 25 |
50 |
Maggie Shiu | Yung Cheuk Tung (Emma) 翁卓桐 |
Yung Cheuk Wah's younger sister Sung Yee Long's girlfriend turned wife Yip Chi Yan and Cheng Kin Sang's friend Lai Sze Man's love rival |
40 |
Moses Chan Yeung Chiu Hoi (youth) |
Sung Yee Long (Angus) 宋以朗 |
A securities agent Lau Chun Hung and Cheng Chun Hin’s friend Yung Cheuk Tung's boyfriend turned husband Lam Pui Ling's ex-boyfriend, later lover Yip Chi Yan's ex-boyfriend Killed and ate Hui Ka Ming |
38 |
The Cheng family[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Kenny Wong Kelvin Leung (youth) |
Cheng Chun Hin (Ronnie) 鄭振軒 |
A former actuary A bass guitarist Yeung Suet Mei's husband Cheng Man-shan and Cheng Man-kei's father Lau Chun Hung, Sung Yee Long and Yung Cheuk Tung's friend Killed and ate Hui Ka Ming |
44 |
Angela Tong | Yeung Suet Mei (Shirley) 楊雪薇 |
Cheng Chun Hin's wife Cheng Man-shan and Cheng Man-kei's mother Lau Chun Hung's admirer Yip Chi Yan's good friend, later friendship breaks |
39 |
Cheng Man-shan (Katie) 鄭文珊 |
Cheng Chun Hin and Yeung Suet Mei's daughter. | ||
Cheng Man-kei (Frankie) 鄭文基 |
Cheng Chun Hin and Yeung Suet Mei's son Cheng Man-shan's brother |
The Yip family[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Yip Kwong Loi 葉光來 |
Yip Chi Yan's father | ||
Cheung Pui Kwan 張珮君 |
Yip Chi Yan's stepmother | ||
Charmaine Sheh Angel Chiang (youth) |
Yip Chi Yan (Hazel, Yan) 葉梓恩 |
DJ Yip Kwong Loi's daughter Cheung Pui Kwan's stepdaughter Yung Cheuk Tung's friend Hui Ka Ming, Sung Yee Long's ex-girlfriend Arthur's mistress, later broke up Lau Chun Hung, Sung Yee Long and Cheng Chun Hin's friend and love interest |
34 |
Workers' Right Protection Association[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Lau Dan | Kong Siu Chuen 江兆泉 |
A trade union leader/A Legco candidate Lau Chun Hung's master, later broke up |
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Bowie Lam Ronald Law (youth) |
Lau Chun Hung (Joe) 劉俊雄 |
A trade union executive/A Legco candidate Kong Siu Chuen's apprentice, later broke up Au Hoi Ching's superior and love interest, later her lover, finally broke up |
43 |
Au Hoi Ching (Cloris) 區海晴 |
A trade union member Lau Chun Hung's assistant Love Lau Chun Hung, later his mistress, finally broke up Committed suicide on Episode 27 |
Ching Ho Finance[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Elaine Jin | Yung Cheuk Wah (Brenda) 翁卓樺 |
Shareholder Hau Chiu Ping's ex-girlfriend Lau Chun Hung's superior, later mistress Died in a car accident in Episode 25 |
50 |
Moses Chan | Sung Yee Long (Angus) 宋以朗 |
Chief Operations Officer Resigned in Episode 20 |
40 |
Bowie Lam | Lau Chun Hung (Joe) 劉俊雄 |
Chief Operations Officer Yung Cheuk Wah's subordinate, later lover Joined in Episode 20 |
43 |
Chan Hung-lit | Hau Chiu Ping (George) 侯釗平 |
Yung Cheuk Wah's ex-boyfriend | |
Queenie Chu | Lam Pui Ling (Jessica) 林佩玲 |
Sung Yee Long's subordinate and lover Yung Cheuk Tung's love rival Resigned in Episode 20 |
27 |
Lui Yiu-bun (Ben) 雷耀彬 |
Triad member Sung Yee Long's subordinate, later Lau Chun Hung's subordinate Loved Lam Pui Ling |
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Kenny Wong | Cheng Chun Hin (Ronnie) 鄭振軒 |
Actuary Joined in Episode 24 |
44 |
CC Radio[]
Cast | Role | Description | Age |
Hung Mao Sum (Sam) 洪茂森 |
Radio Commander | ||
Charmaine Sheh Angel Chiang (youth) |
Yip Chi Yan (Hazel, Yan) 葉梓恩 |
DJ | 34 |
Catherine Chau | Mabel | DJ Yip Chi Yan's colleague |
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Daisy | DJ Yip Chi Yan's colleague |
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Gordon | DJ Yip Chi Yan's colleague |
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Joe Junior | A retired DJ that works in Yip Chi Yan's DJ Radio Station | ||
Rico | DJ assistant Yip Chi Yan's assistant |
Other cast[]
Cast | Role | Description |
Stanley Cheung | Hui Ka Ming 許家明 |
A telecom technician, a band guitarist Yip Chi Yan's boyfriend and love of her life Lau Chun Hung, Sung Yee Long and Cheng Chun Hin’s friend Killed and eaten by Lau Chun Hung, Sung Yee Long and Cheng Chun Hin at the snow mountain |
Felix Lok | Ivan Wong | A doctor Ma Wing-yee's lover, later broke up |
Tsui Wing | Arthur | Yip Chi Yan's lover, later broke up |
Ben Wong | Bowman | A cook Yip Chi Yan's husband, later divorced |
(陳宛蔚) | Sweets Shop owner | |
(楊證樺) | ||
(何偉業) | ||
(姚浩政) | ||
(張漢斌) | ||
(傅劍虹) | ||
(鍾鈺精) | ||
(曾琬莎) | ||
(黃樂兒) | ||
(丁樂鍶) | ||
(吳雲甫) |
Viewership ratings[]
Week | Originally Aired | Episodes | Average Points | Peaking Points | References |
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1 | [2] | ||||
[3] | |||||
[4] | |||||
[5] | |||||
[6] | |||||
[7] | |||||
6 | [8] | ||||
[9] |
Theme songs[]
The opening and closing theme songs of When Heaven Burns were composed by Paul Wong, formerly of the Hong Kong band Beyond. Paul Wong is the guitarist for both songs and is the vocalist for the opening theme. The closing theme is sung by the three male leads and serves as the reconstructed lost song.
The plot line of a band returning home with one of their member dead has led to comparisons between the fictional band and Beyond.[citation needed]
Censorship in mainland China[]
On 27 December 2011, with four episodes to go, China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television ordered the sub-licensees to withdraw the video streaming on 11 websites based on the pretext of cannibalism, making When Heaven Burns the first Hong Kong soap opera series to be censored in Mainland China in over two decades.[1] The real-time relay in Guangdong province was unaffected, however, and the remaining episodes were shown on television without hindrance in that province.[10] The underlying reason for this withdrawal was thought to be because of the show's underlying allusions to the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and non-mainland China media considered this move as censorship.[11] The storyline and the characters demonstrated similarities to the Tiananmen Square protest. When interviewed by Hong Kong's Apple Daily, the show's screenwriter agreed that the story was inspired by the government crackdown on the student democracy movement.[1]
Awards and nominations[]
On 17 December 2012, When Heaven Burns won the TVB Anniversary Award for best drama in 2012, the award was a result of a popular vote.
2012 TVB Anniversary Awards
- Best Drama
- Nominated – Best Actress (Charmaine Sheh) – Top 5
- Nominated – My Favourite Female Character (Charmaine Sheh) – Top 10
My AOD Favourite Awards 2012
- Nominated – Best Drama
- Nominated – Best Actress (Charmaine Sheh) – Top 5
- Nominated – Top 15 Character (Charmaine Sheh)
- Nominated – Top 15 Character (Bowie Lam)
- Nominated – Best Theme Song (年少無知 by Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong)
CASH Golden Sail Music Awards 2012
- Best Chorus Performance (年少無知 by Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong)
17th Asian Television Awards 2012
- Best Actor – Moses Chan
Metro Radio Hits Music Awards 2012
- My Most Appreciated Song (年少無知 by Paul Wong)
Ultimate Song Chart Awards 2012
- WeChat Chit Chat Most Popular Song (年少無知 by Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong)
- My Favourite Song (年少無知 by Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong)
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards 2012
- Top 10 Gold Songs
- Nominated – Top 10 Singers (Bowie Lam, Moses Chan and Kenny Wong)
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Hui, Polly (28 December 2011). "Hong Kong Cannibal Drama Censored". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Day 1 Ratings
- ^ Week 1 Ratings
- ^ Week 2 Ratings
- ^ Week 3 Ratings
- ^ Week 4 Ratings
- ^ Week 5 Ratings
- ^ Week 6 Ratings
- ^ Finale Ratings
- ^ "When Heaven Burns suddenly banned in the mainland (《天與地》內地網突禁播)". Ming Pao. 28 December 2011.
- ^ Ng, Joyce; Li, Raymond; Nip, Amy (28 December 2011). "Hong Kong drama series banned on the mainland". South China Morning Post.
External links[]
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: When Heaven Burns (TV Series) |
- TVB dramas
- Cannibalism in fiction
- Thriller television series
- 2011 Hong Kong television series debuts
- 2012 Hong Kong television series endings
- 2010s Hong Kong television series
- Hong Kong television series
- Television censorship in China
- Censored television series