A story of the illegal immigrant experience of people from the mainland of China who have made it to Hong Kong for a better life.
The Shaw Brothers take a step away from their typical martial arts fare with the dramatic feature “Hong Kong Hong Kong.” From the opening scenes, it’s evident that this film will not mesh into the same framework as their more action-packed works. Following illegal immigrant Man Si Sun (Cherie Chung), “Hong Kong Hong Kong” settles into the grimy underbelly of Hong Kong.
As Man Si Sun attempts to find a better life away from the mainland, she meets (and eventually falls for) Kong Yuen Sang (Alex Man) — a gambler who has stumbled into kickboxing. Directed (and co-written) by Clifford Choi, this movie is a downbeat look, right down to its grim conclusion, at two dreamers hoping for something better.
Altogether, this was a film that left me feeling, in a way, aloof. Choi doesn’t do the best job developing the relationship between Man Si Sun and Kong Yuen Sang. Their first couple of brief meetings lead to a rather abrupt romantic relationship, although both performers do a fine job in their respective roles. Likewise, Kong Yuen Sang’s propulsion from unknown (and untrained) kickboxer to competing in a kickboxing championship seems more than a little far-fetched, especially for a drama like this. Still, Choi keeps things moving at a pace that holds the viewer’s attention, and it’s interesting to see something almost entirely different from this production studio.
On the technical front, 88 Films presents this movie on limited edition Blu-ray. The box states that this transfer comes from the original camera negative. As a whole, it looks pretty good. The opening shot is full of motion judder, making movements look odd, but that settles down once the film focuses on the street-level action. I had no trouble with the mono soundtrack, which is presented with newly translated English subtitles.
The limited edition includes a slipcase and a double-sided foldout poster (which is stored inside the case). Unlike many of their other releases I’ve reviewed, 88 Films offers some special features on this disc. There is an interview with the star Alex Man and journalist David West, who gave commentary on the film. The interview is on the dry side, but the commentary is stuffed with information about the film.
Although it’s a decent drama, Shaw Brothers (or 88 Films) probably won’t win any new fans. If you review trigger warnings before consuming media, you should probably do so before viewing this movie. The film is presented well on this limited edition disc.
Now available on Blu-ray from 88 FILMS
