Friends who are familiar with Hong Kong movies know that although Hong Kong films have declined now, there are still some good works. It's just a pity that due to the problem of the subject matter, they can't be released in the mainland. Today, I recommend ten excellent Hong Kong films that have not been screened in the mainland due to their large scale in the past ten years. Watch for the faint of heart!
Part 1 "Shomadokai"
"Jiao Ma Tang Hui" is a feature film co-produced by Hong Kong, China and France, directed by Qiu Jiongjiong, and starring Yi Sicheng, Guan Nan, Qiu Zhimin, Gu Tao, and Xue Xuchunren, which will be released in 2021.
The story tells the story of the Sichuan opera clown Qiu Fu after his death, on the way to the underworld, he happened to meet the old man who sold wine here, and they pushed the cup and changed the lamp to look back on their lives. At the beginning of the 20th century in Sichuan, warlords were fighting, and Ma'er changed from a fan to a major general, and built a "new and new" theater troupe. Qiu Fu entered the class at the age of eight, and after the triumph of Ma'er's spring breeze, the loss of power and retirement, the prosperity and decline of the drama troupe, and he finally became famous. Ma'er lost ground and retired, and the troupe declined. Qiu Fu spent his days wandering the opium smokers. Ma'er handed over the troupe to the new government. Qiu Fu wrote new plays, taught students, and was finally imprisoned in the "Pig Mansion". After Qiu Fu died, looking back on his life and drinking Meng Po soup, the pain of a hundred years seemed to have never happened.
To be precise, this is a film invested by Hong Kong filmmakers, and the main creators are all from the mainland, and it is the highest-rated Chinese-language film in recent years. This work uses a unique narrative and imaginative visual effects, incorporating traditional Chinese Sichuan opera to give the film a unique viewing experience. At the same time, through the well-designed scene scheduling, a Chinese opera house changes in the times, showing the turbulent changes of China in the 20th century. It is a masterpiece of creativity and artistic value in Chinese films. It's really in-depth and well worth a look.
The second part of "Tree Moves the Wind"
"Tree Moves the Wind" is a police film produced by To Qifeng and You Naihai, co-directed by Xu Xuewen, Ou Wenjie, Huang Weijie, and starring Lin Jiadong, Ren Xianqi, Chen Xiaochun and others. It was released in 2016.
The film is adapted from the criminal experience of Hong Kong's "three thieves" in the 1990s, telling the story of 1997, Zhuo Ziqiang, Ye Guohuan, and Ji Zhengxiong appeared in the same restaurant at different times, and then it was rumored that the three would cooperate in committing crimes. Zhuo Ziqiang has just completed a high-value blackmail. Wanting to seek a new challenge, he was attracted by rumors and was determined to find Ye and Ji. Ye Guohuan heard the news of cooperation while fleeing, and was angry and decided to join Zhuo Ziqiang. Ji Zhengxiong was originally cautious, but greed was triggered, and he also began to consider cooperation. The personalities and desires of the three people, although they were just rumors at first, gradually became true, and their cooperation set the rivers and lakes on fire.
The film uses a unique parallel narrative technique, with three emerging directors each filming the story of a thief. Three different stories take place at the same time and in different spaces, and among the three narrative threads, each plot has its own characteristics. In the end, the exquisite editing skills are skillfully blended together to create an engaging sense of tension and engagement. Although the storyline is dramatic, the images of several thieves are extremely detailed, which can be called a long-lost Hong Kong film masterpiece.
In 2017, at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards, the film won five awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Editing.
The third "Murder"
"Murder" is a feature film directed by Zheng Baorui and starring Lin Jiadong, Yang Lewen, Wu Tingye, Wu Yongshi and others, and will be released in 2023.
The story tells the story of Sister Feng, a woman in the wind and dust, who suffered a death catastrophe and asked for help from the mad numerology master Lao Xu, but was still killed by the butcher on a rainy night. The food delivery boy Ah Dong witnesses the murder and stimulates his dark desires. Lao Xu told the fortune of Ah Dong, found that he was destined to be cruel and would be imprisoned for 20 years, and decided to change his life against the sky, but encountered bad luck again and again. Fate is difficult to disobey, and it is difficult for people to save themselves.
With its unique creative concept, the film will delve into the complex philosophy between destiny, personnel, and cause and effect. The screenwriter's unique conception and perspective, as well as the sharp director of Zheng Baorui and the extremely intense performance of the actors, have successfully created another classic police film work of Galaxy Imaging. Lin Jiadong's superb acting skills in the film are even more breathtaking, and he successfully plays a crazy fortune teller with a genetic disease, always committed to changing the fate of others. The audience said that Lin Jiadong's performance was too real, and netizens said that Lin Jiadong did not look like acting, and suggested going to the hospital to see the brain.
The fourth "Treading Blood and Seeking Plum Blossoms"
"Treading Blood and Seeking Plum Blossoms" is a suspense movie written and directed by Weng Ziguang and starring Aaron Kwok, Chun Xia, Bai Zhi, Jin Yanling and others. It was released in 2015.
The story is based on the 2008 Hong Kong sensational Wang Jiamei murder case, which tells the story of Wang Jiamei, who moved to Hong Kong from Dongguan, and became a girl who helped friends due to economic difficulties, and Ding Zicong, a truck driver who was injured in love, met on the Internet, and later met and had a relationship. During the copulation, Jiamei expressed that she wanted to die, and Ding Zicong killed her. Zang Sir is a police officer investigating the case, he does not care about the details of the case, and pays more attention to exploring the social and human issues behind the case, in order to find out the true cause and prove that human nature is not evil.
The film, with its direct and shocking bloody scenes, as well as a large number of sex scenes, sets a gloomy and heavy tone. The overall atmosphere is depressing, the scale is large, and it has a great impact on the audience's psychology and makes people feel collapsed. Strictly speaking, this film is not a suspense thriller in the traditional sense, but a literary film full of humanistic care and profound connotation. The film is too realistic and has a strong sense of substitution, making it difficult for the audience to stay out of it.
At the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards, "Treading Blood and Seeking Plum Blossoms" won seven awards, including Best Actor and Actress and Best Supporting Actor.
Part 5 "Hand Rolled Cigarettes"
"Hand Rolled Cigarettes" is a feature film directed by Chen Jianlang and starring Lin Jiadong, BiPin Karma, Singh Hatihan Bito, Qian Xiaohao, Zhou Zhijun and others. It was released in 2021.
The story tells the story of Guan Chao, a retired Chinese British soldier, who lives on the underworld, but often can't make ends meet. In order to take refuge, Vinny, a young man in South Asia, begged him to take him in for five days and paid a reward of 300,000 yuan. Guan Chao had facilitated a smuggling transaction, but the goods were not the right version, and he was asked for a deposit of 1.5 million yuan. Vinny took out drugs to help Guan Chao pay off his debts. However, Vinny was captured by Oguchitai's men. Guan Chao considered protecting himself or saving Vinny. After he took a puff of his hand-rolled cigarette, the final decision was made.
The film is not a crime blockbuster in the traditional sense, but focuses on the life stories of small people in big cities. In terms of storyline, camera use and editing processing, the director has shown a very high level of skill. The film depicts the survival state of two rootless people who depend on each other, and is full of strong human touch and pyrotechnics. It is worth mentioning that Lin Jiadong's acting skills in the film are gods! He also won the Golden Horse Award for Best Actor for this film.
Part 6 "Wisdom Teeth"
"Wisdom Teeth" is a crime suspense movie directed by Zheng Baorui and starring Lin Jiadong, Liu Yase, Li Chun and others. It was released in 2021.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by writer Remy, which tells the story of two women and a street girl who are killed, reopen the case under police pressure, and investigate by the old detective Brother Zhan and newcomer Ren Kai. Brother Zhan met Wang Tao, the girl who caused the car accident that caused him to lose his child and his wife to be a vegetative person, and the painful memory made her lose control, chased the car and treated Wang Tao violently, and the latter cooperated with the investigation. Ren Kai accidentally lost his gun, the murderer lurked in the city, and the crisis was approaching.
Director Cheng Baorui has created a "hidden" Hong Kong, minimalist characters and plots, and the real theme is the decadent urban environment. Whether it is chasing, imprisoned or mutilated in the play, the scenes are indefinitely extended, and the abusive and sadistic relationship formed resonates between the viewer and the director. The three protagonists are mired in the difficulties of life, and only by struggling can they find relief. The three endings and directions of the three are thought-provoking.
This is a rare film that presents the style of Hong Kong in black and white, with a unique aesthetic style and a shocking storyline. From photography to sets, they have refreshed the quality of Hong Kong films. Mainland actress Arthur Lau won the Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Festival for this film. A must-see!
Part 7 "The Corridor of Justice"
"The Corridor of Justice" is a crime movie directed by He Juetian and starring Yang Weilun, Mak Peidong, Su Yuhua and others. Released in 2022.
The film is based on true events in 2013. The story tells that Zhang Xianzong and his friend Tang Wenqi brutally murdered their parents in their apartment and dismembered their bodies. The case went to court and both men pleaded not guilty to murder. Senior lawyers Wu Guanfeng and Yau Jiali defended him respectively, and prosecutor Chu Ailun questioned his premeditation. The courtroom debate was fierce, the two behaved very differently, and the truth was vague. Nine jurors competed for the right to speak in the lounge, falling into the speculation of justice, which made the trial even more confusing.
This is a pure Hong Kong-style crime film, which topped the Hong Kong box office charts in 2022. The courtroom debate session was gripping and analyzed the complexity of the case from multiple perspectives. The actor seems to be carefully laying out his own destiny, and the audience can feel his spiritual directorship. The courtroom scene is very exciting, and in the process of reviewing the incident, it explores the living conditions of young people in depth, and makes people think deeply about the value of justice and truth, which is very good-looking.
The eighth part of "Lao Li"
"Lao Li" is directed by Huohuo, starring Zeng Guoxiang, Lin Xue, Feng Qufan, Jiang Haowen, etc. It was released in 2016.
The story tells of a spooky and extraordinary night. Ah Ping, who sees himself as a waste youth, is tempted by a job advertisement and goes to work at a convenience store. but encountered a bitter boss and a female colleague with an odd appearance. Immediately after, an undercover police officer came to borrow a restroom. An angry old man who had just come out of prison suddenly started blackmailing, and then a gangster and a beautiful partner broke in. Everyone is hiding their hearts, and the storm is coming in the convenience store. Until the bomb fanatics attacked, everyone had no way back. Although the result was unexpected, everyone ended up in the same place.
The story of the film mainly revolves around the crazy and absurd plot, and the deep black humor runs through it. It seems crazy, but it actually reveals the tragic phenomena in all corners of society, such as the various social dilemmas that the upper class, the middle class or the lower class may face.
Part 9 "The Exorcist of Todi"
"The Exorcist of Tuodi" is a horror movie directed by Zhang Jiahui and starring Zhang Jiahui, Guo Caijie, Cai Sibei and others, released in 2015.
The story tells that Huang Yongfa is a master of exorcism in Mong Kok, without spells, he can see ghosts with only one mouth, communicate with people and ghosts, and his exorcism videos have a high number of hits on the Internet. Reporter Zi Ning was curious and wanted to report on it, but he was rescued by Yongfa by a ghost, and he had feelings for him. During the investigation, Zi Ning discovered that Yongfa was living with the female ghost Jiang Xue, who had been with him since he was a child, like a relative and a couple.
This film is one of the director's works of "Scum Scum", which is a horror film on the surface, but in fact it can be regarded as a suspense detective film. Combining comedy, gangster, action, supernatural, romance and the aesthetics of black violence, it presents a shocking audio-visual experience. It is worth mentioning that the singer Jacky Cheung also starred in this film.
The tenth "Golden Capital"
"Jindu" is a romance film written and directed by Huang Qilin, starring Deng Lixin, Zhu Baikang, Bao Qijing, Jin Kaijie and others, released in 2019.
The story tells the story of Cheng Lifang, who is in her thirties working in a bridal shop and facing marriage with her boyfriend who has been dating for seven years, but her boyfriend's naivety makes her hesitate. He was also troubled by the "fake marriage" incident ten years ago. She needs to find the mainland man of the year to handle the divorce, and at the same time try to hide her current boyfriend. In the preparation of the wedding, she must face her past and future.
Director Huang Qilin uses bright rhythm and humorous techniques to deeply analyze the contradictions and conflicts of modern urban people in terms of emotions and values. The film not only satirizes the institution of marriage, but also reveals social problems such as high housing prices and crowded living conditions. The heroine Deng Lixin abandons the burden of idols, returns to her true nature, has superb acting skills, and is free to retract. The actor Chu Pak-hong, who set foot on the big screen for the first time, vividly portrayed the image of a confused Hong Kong man and won high recognition from the audience. "Golden Capital" is a masterpiece that can both make people laugh and make people think, with multiple interpretations and intriguing.
These ten Hong Kong movies are all watchable, but it is a pity that they have not been able to reach mainland audiences due to their subject matter. If you have the opportunity, you might as well find the source of the film to take a look, and it will definitely not disappoint you.