“DEAREST Anita,” a Hong Kong movie focusing on Cantopop diva Anita Mui (1963-2003), will be screened in Hong Kong cinemas starting this weekend.

Directed by Clifton Ko and Pako Leung, “Dearest Anita” centers on the aftermath of Mui’s death. It stars Myolie Wu as Mui’s childhood friend Amy and Sonija Kwok as one of Mui’s fans, Edith.

The film is inspired by a true story about an interaction between Mui and the fan. After filming the movie, Wu and Kwok said they were not surprised at how revered and respected Mui was. Mui’s compassion and empathy for her fans is inspiring, said Kwok.

Acclaimed as “Hong Kong’s daughter” for her generous personality and perseverance, Mui has made major contributions to the Cantopop music scene and received numerous awards and honors. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a Cantopop diva.

Her wild dancing, outrageous costumes and high-powered performances in the 1980s earned her the title of “Madonna of the East.”

Her fan base reached far beyond China into many parts of Asia, including Singapore and Malaysia. In Hong Kong where stars often rise and fall quickly, Mui remained in the spotlight for 21 years (1982–2003). Her career came to an abrupt halt in 2003 when she announced that she had cervical cancer. She died later that year at the age of 40.(SD-Agencies)