A poor young man is wrongly charged with drug trafficking after being deceived. An ex-prosecutor investigates the case, uncovers a corrupt lawyer team’s scheme, and restores justice despite obstruction from evil forces.
Donnie Yen stars, directs, and co-produces “The Prosecutor,” a Chinese procedural exploring the role of prosecutors and the law. Yen plays Detective Fok Chi Ho, who was unexpectedly promoted to the Department of Justice in Hong Kong. There, he makes an immediate impression by using his investigatory skills acquired on the streets to propose an alternate version of a murder scenario the department is examining. From there, Fok really starts to make waves when he appears in court and inexplicably advocates for a defendant on trial for drug trafficking.
One might legitimately wonder what’s going on here. Writers Pak Wai Lam and Edmond Wong endeavor to make the point that prosecutors have a higher duty to society than simply convicting accused individuals. This contrasts with too many justice officials in whatever country at whatever level who seek guilty verdicts at all costs to further their political careers. Too often, these strained efforts result in wrongful convictions for the innocent.
By contrast, Fok often finds himself dissatisfied with conventional interpretations of theories regarding specific crimes. He maintains an objective demeanor that considers facts and evidence, not simply the pursuit of an easy but flawed conviction. His approach rankles his bosses and risks his own career. Nonetheless, Fok perseveres through the courts, employing his well-honed instincts to learn the truth.
The plot revolves around the receipt of a parcel that police are tracking and believe contains drugs. After the recipient’s arrest, Ma Ka Kit (Ho Yeung Fung), the prisoner, claims that he only agreed to accept the package on behalf of someone else for a few desperately needed dollars. While in jail, Ma’s lawyers – especially Au Pak Man (Julian Cheung) – persuade the naïve young man to take a plea deal, despite initial misgivings.
Of course, as the trailers imply, “The Prosecutor” also contains generous amounts of well-choreographed fight sequences that will keep action fans happy. The streets of Hong Kong are vibrantly alive and provide a lovely backdrop for frequent skirmishes. Even after his transition from the police to the Department of Justice, Fok finds himself in need of close-quarter combat skills with some regularity.
Setting “The Prosecutor” apart, among other things, is the strong production value, particularly by cinematographer Man Nok Wong, whose camera moves fluidly across the Hong Kong vistas and subways, keeping things unfailingly interesting. The scenes are crisp and clean, complementing the narrative smartly as it progresses.
Shot in Cantonese with English subtitles, the film requires viewers to pay attention to keep up with the constant maneuvering on both sides of the law. “The Prosecutor” offers a good example of a well-made foreign picture that possesses more than enough fine qualities to please audiences in any global market.
Available on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital May 27th
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Sounds like my type of movies