NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kani (through Vinegar Syndrome) Blu-ray (June 2026): Kani have transferred Angie Chen's My Name Ain't Suzie to Blu-ray. The presentation starts with a text screen: "This new 2K restoration of My Name Ain’t Suzie was commissioned by Kani Releasing. The primary source for this restoration was the original camera negative; one missing shot from reel six was sourced from a print with burnt-in bilingual subtitles. Scanning was completed in 2K at L’Immagine Ritrovata Asia (Hong Kong) on an Arrisan. The restoration and color grading were completed at qoop, Inc. (Tokyo). Scratches and other imperfections remain. Please approach with understanding and empathy." The 1080P transfer boasts rich, filmic colors that make the neon-drenched Wan Chai nights pop with authentic 1950s–80s vibrancy, while retaining natural grain and impressive fine detail in costumes, period sets, and textures. Black levels are deep and stable, contrast is pleasingly film-like without crushing shadows, and the transfer handles the shift from brighter, energetic early scenes to the more somber later reels with consistency. Minor source limitations (occasional softness in some interiors or fleeting damage) remain, but overall this is a significant upgrade that honors the film’s ambitious production design and cinematography.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kani use DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Cantonese language. Voices are clear and prioritized, with good presence for Patricia Ha and Anthony Wong’s performances, while ambient bar noise, street chatter, and diegetic music from the jukeboxes and live performances in Wan Chai venues that help immerse viewers in the era's vibrant, transactional nightlife - sit naturally in the mix. Dynamic range is modest but appropriate for a mid-80s Shaw production. The score was credited to Chin-Yung Shing (Robotrix, Lust For Love of a Chinese Courtesan, Lady Assassin, Dragons Forever, Five Elements Ninjas, The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Mr. Vampire III and Mr. Vampire IV) and Chen-Hou Su 8 Diagram Pole Fighter, Five Elements Ninjas.) Kani offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The extras package on this Kani Blu-ray is generously supplemented with fresh 2026 interviews that add substantial context and value. Director Angie Chen’s dozen-minute interview and her 10 minute piece on “Working in Hong Kong” offer personal insights into the production’s challenges and feminist intentions. Screenwriter / planner John Chan’s 1/4 hour talk dives into scripting and historical detail, while the 8 minute “Becoming Jimmy” roundtable with Chen, Chan, and Anthony Wong is a highlight for fans, covering Wong’s debut casting and experience. The original theatrical trailer and the booklet featuring new writing by Xueli Wang rounds out the package with thoughtful analysis.

Angie Chen's My Name Ain't Suzie stands as a landmark feminist intervention in Hong Kong cinema. It directly challenges the exoticized, male-gaze romanticism of Hollywood's The World of Suzie Wong (1960) while delivering a sweeping, decades-spanning portrait of female agency, exploitation, and resilience amid post-war socio-economic upheaval. It features ambitious period reconstruction, resourceful use of sets and locations to evoke bygone eras of Cantonese cinema, and a blend of bright, colorful packaging with raw emotional depth and occasional spontaneous gore/violence. Screenwriter John Chan Koon-Chung (My Heart Is That Eternal Rose) contributes layered anecdotes and social observation. Cinematography by Robert Huke and strong art direction help bring authentic texture to the shifting decades. The film marks a transitional moment at Shaw Brothers, bridging studio traditions with more personal, auteur-driven storytelling. Patricia Ha (An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty, Nomad,) delivers a tour-de-force as Shui-Mei, evolving dynamically from fierce, ambitious youth to hardened survivor while retaining core vitality. Her performance anchors the film's emotional and thematic weight. My Name Ain't Suzie is a richly textured melodrama that transcends genre through its unapologetic centering of women's voices, its nuanced take on survival and agency, and its vivid reconstruction of a pivotal era in Hong Kong's cultural and economic history. It remains a powerful rebuke to Orientalist tropes and a testament to feminine resilience. Kani’s Blu-ray of My Name Ain’t Suzie is a worthy and long-overdue home video premiere that presents Angie Chen’s feminist Hong Kong drama in strong technical form with excellent new supplemental content. The 2K restoration revitalizes the film’s visual ambition, the audio is solid, and the extras provide rare firsthand perspectives from key creatives. For physical media collectors, Hong Kong cinema enthusiasts, and admirers of strong female-led stories, this is an essential upgrade and a fine example of boutique label care for overlooked classics. Highly recommended.

Gary Tooze