The Last Steep Ascent is a Hong Kong television drama produced by TVB under executive producer Lee Tim-sing.
Background
The drama is a fictionalized account of a true love story between an older woman and a younger man in 1930s China.[1] Koo Sun-yuet, the wife of a wealthy businessman, falls in love with Miu Tin, a man eight years her junior. The two elope to the countryside and lives modestly for the remainder of their lives. Before Tin dies, he handcarves a long stair path on the mountain so Yuet can travel down with ease.
Production
A costume fitting press conference was held at TVB City's Studio 1 in Tseung Kwan O on 20 September 2011.[2] The blessing ceremony was held at the studios on 13 October 2011.
Cast
Maggie Cheung Ho-yee as Koo Sun-yuet (顧新月), the main protagonist. She is the wife of Ho Sai-cheung, a talented businessman in the Chinese medicine wholesaling business. Yuet falls in love with Miu Tin, a man eight years her junior, and the two elope to the countryside for a modest living. It is revealed that she met Miu Tin when he was younger during her journey to her wedding.
Moses Chan as Miu Tin (苗天), Yuet's lover who is eight years her junior. He is a peasant hailing from Ngau Yee Village, and plants Chinese herbs and medicine for a living. It is revealed that he met Yuet during his childhood, during which he asked her to touch his gums where he was missing two front teeth, believing that front teeth would grow quickly when a bride touches it.
Kenny Wong as Cheng Kiu (鄭嬌), Tin's best friend. His wife died with nobody to help her and Kiu, drinking with his friends, his child also died later regardless of his attempt to save his child. He is shown marrying Oi-tai in the last episode.
Aimee Chan as Tin Oi-tai (田愛娣), a maid from San Francisco, who has an affair with Sai-cheung. She is raped by a man who later comes back to haunt her, whilst she believes that the child she is impregnated with was Sai-cheung's. She eventually has a miscarriage, leading her to fall in love with Kiu who saved her from the rapist who assaulted her. She shares the latter part of her name, Oi-tai, with Kiu's previous wife, questioning if Kiu truly loved her. She is shown to marry Kiu in the last episode.
Edwin Siu as Ho Sai-ho (賀世豪), the main antagonist. He is the son of Kwan-yiu and cousin of Sai-cheung. He attempts to burn down the storage of the business which he took over, in order to escape with his wife and start over, whilst taking the majority of the money. This, however, is foiled by the police.
KK Cheung as Ho Sai-cheung (賀世章), the husband of Sun-yuet, and the current executive officer of the Ho family's Chinese medicine business, Ho Ching Tong. He is the most powerful and successful figure in the Chinese medicine wholesaling business. He died in episode seven, from his sickness which had dormant since his time in San Francisco, of which he hid from his family.
Law Lan as Leung Mei-kuen (梁美娟), known as Old Mrs. Ho, Ho Sai-cheung's mother, the matriarch of the Ho family.
Cheung Yick as Ho Kwan-yiu (賀坤堯), Sai-ho's father and Sai-cheung's elder paternal uncle.
Joel Chan as Lai Chai-man (黎濟民), a young, ambitious businessman who strives to achieve the top spot in the Chinese medicine wholesaling business.
Samantha Ko as Cheng Yim-ping (鄭艷萍), Chai-man's wife.
Benjamin Yuen as Ho Sai-leung (賀世亮), Sai-cheung's younger brother.
Katy Kung as Ho Sai-man (賀世雯), Sai-cheung and Sai-leung's younger sister.
Mat Yeung as Ngai Po-law (魏保羅), Sai-man's husband.
Tsui Wing as Kwan Kwong-tat (關廣達), known as Blackie Tat, one of Tin's friend.
