Hong Kong’s Godfather

Last Sunday at BAM ( Brooklyn Academy of Music) I watched the double billing of Hong Kong director Johnnie To’s Election and Triad Election.

Election released in 2005, places you in an electoral year of the Wo Shing society, the oldest triad group of Hong Kong, who believe in democratically electing a new leader. Every two years the elders of the society, known as the “uncles”, elect an up and coming younger boss as their chairman. The two contenders for chairman, the bombastic Big D played by Tony Leung KA Fai, and the understated Lam Lok wonderfully played by Simon Yam, take polar approaches to their electoral campaigns. Surrounding the two key players are over a dozen characters all adhering to fractions that suit their own interests, which becomes a little confusing in the 90 mins of screen time. Election stands out from the Hong Kong film pack for its toned down use of violence, psychological study of the characters, the lack of a single ricocheting bullet and the unglamorous portrait of gangster life. Johnnie To accomplishes the raw look at the triad’s life with barely lit scenes and lack lust cinematography, which feels like a throw back to Hong Kong films of the mid 90’s. Election is witty and engaging, and a set piece for its sequel Triad Election.

Triad Election (2006) seamlessly picks up the story of the Wo Shing society two years after Election. This time around director Johnnie To displays his mastery of the gangster genre, with a tapestry of deception akin to Coppla’s Godfather woven across the screen. Election’s cinematographer Cheng Siu Keung returns with more lights and camera moves giving a more visually pleasing film. What Election failed to deliver, Triad Election more than delivers, grabbing your undivided attention, with Lam Lok not wishing to step down and his younger subordinate, Jimmy (Louis Koo) not wishing to run for chairman. Jimmy, a gangster trying to go legit as a businessman who keeps getting pulled back in, seems a reluctant candidate but proves his wears in a brilliant scene in which Jimmy’s henchman cries ” I want more money, this will give me nightmares”. Uncles, godsons, hired guns, snitches and the Chinese authorities all vying for power, masterfully spun together, leaving you with anticipation for Mr To’s third installment.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 31st, 2007 at 9:58 am and is filed under Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.