Esprit d'amour is a 1983 Hong Kong supernatural romance film directed by Ringo Lam and starring Alan Tam, Shu-Chun Ni and Cecilia Yip. Shot in modern-day Hong Kong, the film centres on protagonist Koo Chi-Ming, a hapless insurance investigator who while investigating the death of a young women begins being haunted by her spirit.
Based on an American film from 1970 and on an original story by Raymond Wong, Esprit d'amour is credited as the very first film directed by Hong Kong director Ringo Lam better known for his later 1987 film City on Fire starring Chow Yun-fat. Released in Hong Kong on 15 December 1983, the film took in a total of HK$14.1 million at the box office and gained one nomination at the 1985 Hong Kong Film Awards.
In 1998 Esprit d'amour was released on VHS in the United States and on DVD in 2005, a digitally remastered Hong Kong version was also released a few years later in mid-2008.
Plot summary
Koo Chi-Ming (Alan Tam) is a life-insurance investigator who, on his way to his engagement party, loses control of his car and almost runs over a young woman, Siu-Yu (Ni Shu-Chun). Later upon arriving at his party he and his father (Bill Tung) begin being henpecked by his mother (Tang Pik-wan) and his fiancée Ivy (Cecilia Yip). At the end of the party, attendees play with a Ouija board attempting to talk to a spirit. Chi-Ming's little brother explains that after they are finished they must send the spirit back, otherwise the person last holding the saucer will be haunted by the spirit. Elsewhere, Siu-Yu is on the roof of her apartment with her goddaughter Mimi waiting for clothes to dry, when Siu-Yu notices that Mimi is very close to the edge. Rushing forward to grab Mimi, Siu-Yu accidentally steps on a skateboard, which sends her over the edge of the roof. As soon as Siu-Yu dies, the Ouija board saucer begins to move and points out her name. The saucer then begins to rotate violently on the board, throwing everyone back, apart from Chi-Ming, who holds on until the saucer flips over to reveal a small spot of blood, indicating he will be haunted.
The next day at work, Chi-Ming is handed two cases to investigate by his boss (Philip Chan). The spirit of Siu-Yu makes sure that he gets her case by switching the files. While looking through the case file, Chi-Ming notices that the name of the deceased is the same as the one spelt out on the Ouija board. After visiting her apartment, he realises that he almost ran over her the night before. Upon returning home, the ghost of Siu-Yu appears to Chi-Ming and tells him that her death was an accident. She asks that the insurance money be paid to Mimi.
At work Chi-Ming is about to write up his report, but his boss tells him to rule the death a suicide. Later, Chi-Ming tells her that he cannot override his boss's decision. Siu-Yu begins to play pranks on Chi-Ming's boss, causing him to fire Chi-Ming. Chi-Ming takes the loss hard, ending up in jail only to be bailed out and re-hired by his former boss, still haunted by Siu-Yu.
Now a free man and with a promotion, Chi-Ming begins a romantic relationship with Siu-Yu, much to the dismay of his girlfriend, who along with his mother hires an exorcist, Dr. Han (Tien Feng). At Chi-Ming's apartment, Dr. Han explains that while he is performing the exorcism the front door, which he calls "the door of life", cannot be opened as this would cause the "door of death" to open. He also instructs Ivy to keep Chi-Ming from his apartment during the exorcism.
Ivy takes Chi-Ming out to a nightclub to distract him, but while watching a dance performance he spots Siu-Yu on stage and in great distress. At the same time, in Chi-Ming's apartment, Dr. Han summons Siu-Yu, who disappears in front of Chi-Ming. Chi-Ming rushes home to find Dr. Han in the middle of the exorcism. Rushing to help Siu-Yu, he opens the "door of death". Dr. Han runs away, while the contents of the room are sucked out of the window, along with Chi-Ming and Siu-Yu. Grabbing the balcony railing Chi-Ming fails to hang onto Siu-Yu. Trying to follow her he jumps, but falls down 18 floors onto a parked car. After recovering in the hospital, Chi-Ming returns to where he first saw Siu-Yu, hoping to find her. He walks out onto the road and is almost hit by a car. The female driver resembles but is not Siu-Yu. She drives away. He removes his glasses and looks up at the sky with a smile.