Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai (2006)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Johnny To

Writers:

Nai-Hoi Yau (written by) and
Tin-Shing Yip (written by)

Release Date:

27 April 2006 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Even a criminal can serve his country

Plot:

As election time nears, current Triad chairman Lok (Yam) faces competition from his godsons. At the same time, Jimmy (Koo) looks to increase his business relations with mainland China. |

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Louis Koo	...	Jimmy Lee
Simon Yam	...	Lam Lok
Nick Cheung	...	Jet
Ka Tung Lam	...	Kun (as Lam Ka Tung)
Suet Lam	...	Big Head (as Lam Suet)
Siu-Fai Cheung	...	Mr. So (as Cheung Siu Fai)
Tian-lin Wang	...	'Uncle' Teng Wai (as Wong Tin Lam)
Mark Cheng	...	Bo
Ping-Man Tam	...	Uncle Cocky (as Tam Ping Man)
Yue-Tong Pan	...	Janice (as Pauline Pan)
Andy On	...	Lik
Yong You	...	Black Ren / Chinese Security Bureau Chief (as Yao Yung)
Mo-Hau Cheung	...	Mr. Shu (as Albert Cheung)
Bun Yuen		(as Yuen Bun)
Shing Lun Mok		(as Mok Shing Lun)

Also Known As:

Election 2 (International: English title) (UK)
Black Society 2: Triads Value Peace Most (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)
Election II (International: English title)
Election: Volume 2 (UK) (DVD title)
Harmony Is a Virtue (International: English title)
Triad Election (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin | Cantonese

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:III | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | France:-12 | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15 | USA:Unrated | UK:18

Company:

China Star Entertainment

Trivia:

The film was shown Out of Competition (midnight screening) at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. The film was shown in Grand Theatre Lumiere, the most prestigious theater at Cannes.

Quotes:

Mr. Shi: From now on, you're welcome in China as tourists. But you can't do business here.
Jimmy: Why?
Mr. Shi: It's our policy.
Jimmy: Mr. Shu is also a gangster. Why can he do business in China?
Mr. Shi: We made a deal, and he's a patriot.
Jimmy: I can make you a deal. I can be a patriot.
Mr. Shi: What's your rank in Wo Sing? Not its Chairman?
Jimmy: If I run for Chairman, will you give me what I want?

Movie Connections:

Follows Hak se wui (2005)

Triad Election

I recently saw this at the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival and I had never seen the first film of this series but this still stands on it's own without the benefit of seeing the first film Election. This being distributed as Triad Election although in the opening credits is called Election 2. This is the story of a large Hong Kong crime syndicate that has it's hand in several business dealings from bootleg compact discs to government contracts in Hong Kong and on mainland China. Ten of the actors reprise their roles here from the first film. Lok is the head of the crime family of which was elected to serve a two year term and now his term is up. He wants to hang on to his power and not go into semi-retirement as an elder or uncle within the Triad. Jimmy is the odd-on favorite to win the election this time around but he is a reluctant candidate. He only wants to be a underworld businessman which he never will be unless he accepts the position as the elected one term leader of the crime family. Veterna director Johnny To is back as the director as well as the screenplay team of Nal Hei Yau and Tin-Shing yip, cinematographer Siu-keung Chang and production director Tony Yu. This is a violent film and many comparisons have been made with the Godfather and other American gangster films. Not knowing anything about this or it's predecessor film I didn't really know what to expect here but this is a well-polished film with a good story and plenty of interesting characters. I would give this an 8.0 out of 10.