CID: Four Moments of Life (Dawn, Noon, Dusk, Night) (1976)
A landmark 1976 Hong Kong TV movie by Patrick Tam Kar-Ming, tracing four police officers through a single day of quietly harrowing cases.
CID: Four Moments of Life - Movie Information
- Original Title: CID: 晨午暮夜
- Release Year: 1976
- Directed by: Patrick Tam Kar-Ming
- Type: Movie
- Genres: TV Movie
- Runtime: 50m
- Original Language: CN
- Spoken Languages: Cantonese
- Production Companies: TVB
- Production Countries: Hong Kong
CID: Four Moments of Life - Plot
Four episodes combined. Dawn: the first cop goes to interrogate the parents of a babygirl who got burnt by an iron. These, eventually admit to be the one responsible but they state it was an accident. Going back on a bus, he reads a newspaper article reporting another case of violence against minors. Noon: the moustached cop cop collects the report of a mother regarding the presence of perverts in her building. A thirteen-year-old girl is spotted with a man in equivocal acts: when she is interrogated she shows no signs of anxiety. Dusk: in a nursing home a guest kills another old man with an axe. He is interrogated by the older cop who, once back home, talks with his wife and daughter while watching sadly TV. Night: the fourth cop is in a disco when he gets the call that a collegue's wife was the victim of a hit and run. The following morning he goes back to the office.
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CID: Four Moments of Life - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Patrick Tam Kar-Ming
Main Cast
- Simon Yam
- David Lo Dai-Wai
- Chan Ka-Yee
- Mark Cheung Lui
- Henry Yu Yang
- Rosaline Chan
- Cheng Siu-Ping
- Ho Bik-Kin
- Tony Wong
- Helina Chan Hay Lin
Writers
- Patrick Tam Kar-Ming
- Joyce Chan Wan-Man
CID: Four Moments of Life - FAQs
What is CID: Four Moments of Life about?
CID: Four Moments of Life is a 1976 Hong Kong TV movie made up of four episodes, each following a different police officer through a distinct time of day — dawn, noon, dusk, and night — as they handle disturbing cases involving child abuse, a teenage girl, an elderly killer, and a hit-and-run accident.
Who directed CID: Four Moments of Life?
CID: Four Moments of Life was directed by Patrick Tam Kar-Ming, a filmmaker who would go on to become one of Hong Kong cinema's most respected auteurs. He also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Joyce Chan Wan-Man.
Who are the main actors in CID: Four Moments of Life?
The cast includes Simon Yam, David Lo Dai-Wai, Chan Ka-Yee, Mark Cheung Lui, Henry Yu Yang, Rosaline Chan, Cheng Siu-Ping, Ho Bik-Kin, Tony Wong, and Helina Chan Hay Lin — a strong ensemble spread across the film's four distinct episodes.
Is CID: Four Moments of Life an early Simon Yam appearance?
Yes, CID: Four Moments of Life is considered one of Simon Yam's earliest screen appearances. Released in 1976 for TVB, it predates his rise to international fame as one of Hong Kong cinema's most prolific and celebrated actors across action, drama, and crime genres.
How long is CID: Four Moments of Life?
CID: Four Moments of Life runs approximately 50 minutes in total. The runtime is divided across four episodes — Dawn, Noon, Dusk, and Night — each presenting a self-contained story centered on a different police officer and case.
What is the structure of CID: Four Moments of Life?
The film is structured as four linked episodes named after times of day. Each segment follows a separate cop dealing with a distinct case — child abuse, a young girl in a compromising situation, a nursing home killing, and a late-night hit-and-run — painting a mosaic portrait of police life.
What language is CID: Four Moments of Life in?
CID: Four Moments of Life is in Cantonese, reflecting its origins as a TVB production made in Hong Kong. It is an early example of the socially conscious television drama that would define Hong Kong's broadcasting landscape during the 1970s.
What are some movies similar to CID: Four Moments of Life?
If you enjoy CID: Four Moments of Life, you might also like Ray Donovan: The Movie, Psych 3: This Is Gus, Sleeping with Danger, The Bad Seed, and An Ideal Father — all TV movies that blend character-driven storytelling with crime or dramatic tension in compelling ways.
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