Hong Kong!
The Gene Siskel Film Center ushers in the Year of the Rat with a series of four new Hong Kong action dramas. According to Chinese legend, the rat streaked ahead of all the other animals to be first in line when Buddha was naming the years, thus the 12-year cycle of the Chinese horoscope leads off with the clever rat. These Chicago premieres may similarly be found at the head of their class, crowd-pleasing productions that signify a revival of Hong Kong’s popular action genre. Hong Kong! is made possible in part through the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
We are especially pleased to present one special screening of BLOOD BROTHERS, produced by the legendary team of Terence Chang and John Woo. This atmospheric period gangster film features an all-star cast, and was screened as the closing night film at the Venice Film Festival and as a gala presentation at the Toronto Film Festival.
Auteur director Johnnie To (EXILE) produced EYE IN THE SKY starring Simon Yam, the intricately choreographed policier that represents the directorial debut of To’s longtime screenwriter. KUNG FU FIGHTER, set in 30s Shanghai, and DRAGON TIGER GATE, a comic book-based vehicle for the kinetic Donnie Yen, are both characterized by the outrageously enjoyable martial arts action for which the Hong Kong cinema is justly renowned.
For their support and assistance the Gene Siskel Film Center thanks Monica Chen, Director, and Kelly So, Chief Information Officer, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York; Jon Soo, Tai Seng Video Marketing; Terence Chang, Lion Rock Productions; Raymond Phathanavirangoon and Marit Ligthart, Fortissimo Films; Michael Werner and Brooke Ford, First Look Studios; Anita Hsueh; and James Luk.
--Barbara Scharres
Chicago premiere!
BLOOD BROTHERS
(TIAN TANG KOU)
2007, Alexi Tan, Taiwan/China/Hong Kong, 95 min.
With Daniel Wu, Chang Chen, Shu Qi
“Puts the glamour back into the Chinese gangster film.”--Maggie Lee, Hollywood Reporter
In this stylish riff on the story of John Woo’s BULLET IN THE HEAD, brothers Kang and Hu and their best friend Fung arrive in 1930s Shanghai full of dreams, only to discover that a lifetime of waiting tables and pulling rickshaws awaits them. Enterprising Kang finds favor with a mobster and leverages the trio into the bloodthirsty ranks of Boss Hong’s gang at the Paradise nightclub where sultry Lulu is the reigning showgirl. Ruthless ambition, principled cowardice, love, and envy make for a volatile mix that will soon dissolve brotherly bonds and nullify friendship. Boasting Asia’s hottest talents on both sides of the camera, BLOOD BROTHERS was produced by the legendary team of John Woo and Terence Chang. In Mandarin with English subtitles. 35mm widescreen. (BS)
Thursday, February 28, 6:00 pm
Chicago premiere!
DRAGON TIGER GATE
(LUNG FU MOON)
2006, Wilson Yip, Hong Kong/China, 94 min.
With Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse
“A hugely enjoyable, explosively staged ride into chopsockydom. A rare manga adaptation that honestly reflects its comic book origins.”--Derek Elley, Variety
Delivering the high-voltage action fix that has become rare in recent Hong Kong productions, DRAGON TIGER GATE provides non-stop enjoyment for fans of kinetic martial arts fun. Brothers Dragon (Yen) and Tiger (Tse), raised separately by different mothers, are reunited as adversaries seeking possession of a Triad gang’s golden totem. Dragon is now the gang’s feared enforcer, while younger brother Tiger is the do-gooder favorite son of their revered kung fu-master father. Star Donnie Yen choreographed the action in Hong Kong’s finest tradition of mayhem and excess. In Cantonese with English subtitles. 35mm. (BS)
Friday, February 29, 7:45 pm
Monday, March 3, 8:00 pm
Chicago premiere!
EYE IN THE SKY
(GUN CHUNG)
Yau Nai-hoi, Hong Kong/China, 90 min.
With Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka-fai
Veteran screenwriter Yau (ELECTION, THE MISSION), with more than a dozen high-profile scripts for his mentor director Johnnie To to his credit, turns his hand to directing this tense police drama featuring an ensemble cast of To regulars. Hunky Simon Yam gained 20 pounds to play against type as the paunchy jokester detective initiating young greenhorn “Piggy” (Kate Tsui) in the ways of undercover surveillance in order to apprehend a gang of jewel thieves directed remotely by a mystery man (Leung). Eating is an odd running theme, one of the many writer/director’s touches that defuse EYE IN THE SKY’s tension with singular quirkiness. In Cantonese with English subtitles. 35mm. (BS)
Friday, February 8, 6:15 pm
Sunday, February 10, 5:15 pm
Chicago premiere!
KUNG FU FIGHTER
(GONG FU WU DI)
2007, Yip Wing-kin, Hong Kong/China, 99 min.
With Vanness Wu, Terry Fan
A young peasant escapes a village massacre in which his mother is murdered and ends up in 30s Shanghai searching for his long-missing father. With all the iconic themes in place, this comedy/drama reminiscent of KUNG FU HUSTLE unfolds the adventures of Manik (hot pop star Vanness Wu), whose preternatural strength and fighting ability compensate for babe-in-the-woods naïveté when he falls in with gangsters. The gaudy clubs and sinister gambling dens of Shanghai make for a properly atmospheric backdrop to eye-popping kung fu set pieces. In Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles. 35mm. (BS)