Herman Yau’s ‘We’re Nothing at All’ Lands U.K.-Ireland Deal

Herman Yau’s Hong Kong social drama “We’re Nothing at All” will open in British and Irish cinemas on May 29 after Trinity CineAsia closed a non-exclusive deal with Golden Scene for U.K. and Ireland rights.

The film launched on Hong Kong screens April 3, picking up the Audience Choice Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival before travelling to competition at the Far East Film Festival in Udine; it added screens in its second week as audience buzz built.

The production is the first title out of Yau’s The Plan Company and was bankrolled by him without outside financing. Among Hong Kong cinema’s most prolific directors – with more than 80 credits ranging from cult exploitation (“The Untold Story”) to the blockbuster “Shock Wave” franchise – Yau revisits the intimate, humanistic register of earlier socially minded work including “Taxi Hunter” and “Whispers and Moans.”

Loosely drawn from a 1998 Wuhan incident, the Cantonese-language drama follows a retired forensic expert investigating a deliberate Valentine’s Day bus explosion traced to two passengers: Fai and Ike, a gay couple from disadvantaged backgrounds living apart from mainstream society. His inquiry surfaces a history of abuse, homophobia, and despair, and the film uses the tragedy to probe questions of moral accountability and collective indifference in Hong Kong.

Heading the cast are Patrick Tam (“Breakout Brothers”), Mirror member Anson Kong (“Back Home”), and Ansonbean (“The Lyricist Wannabe”), with Chu Pak-him, Rachel Leung, Wong You-nam, Kearen Pang, and Ben Yuen in supporting roles.

“If you are living a happy and fulfilling life, I hope this film reminds you that there are still people in the world facing oppression and hardship. And to those going through difficult times, I hope you know you are not alone. Whether you are in Hong Kong or part of the overseas diaspora that cares about the city, I hope this film helps us feel closer to one another, no matter how far apart we are,” Yau said.

“We are proud to support his latest self-financed project, which is very personal to him and marks a return to his roots in social realist dramas with a punch. Its uncompromising style and themes of marginalisation and social indifference have really resonated with audiences at home, where it is drawing a lot of commentary, and we expect the film will resonate with more diverse audiences on the big screen here. We are thankful to Golden Scene for giving us this opportunity,” added Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia.

Trinity CineAsia’s recent U.K. theatrical releases include Zhang Yimou’s “Scare Out,” the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, “Ne Zha 2,” and Bi Gan’s Cannes 2025 Special Prize-winning “Resurrection.”