OVERHEARD

Hong Kong, 2009, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ching Wan Lau, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Michael Wong.
Directed by Felix Chong and Alan Mak.

Overheard is a variation on the Hong Kong police thrillers, symbolised by the Infernal Affairs films. This time the group of police is involved in surveillance, not just listening devices but video filming as well.

The film focuses on big business, corporate respectability, under the surface lack of responsibility and drug dealing and money deals, even to eliminating rivals by murder.

The variation on the theme is that the three police involved in surveillance begin to use the information for their own advantage. This involves a decision by their police chief to support them rather than denouncing them.

Things come to a head with a rather violent turn, the head of the corporation making a final speech declaring his respectability while behind him is surveillance material filmed about his plans. There is a graphic scene at the end, where one of the police gets his revenge on the businessman but only at the expense of his own life (after being brutalised and left for dead by the corporation) and the driving of the car off an incomplete bridge in Hong Kong Harbour.

The film is popular material – quite well done, always interesting in terms of the psychology of the police as well as the portrayal of the world of crime in Hong Kong.

1. The tradition of Hong Kong crime thrillers, the work of the police? The variations on the theme here?

2. Hong Kong, the background, the city, offices, apartments? The countryside outside the city? The finale on the roads and the bridge? The musical score?

3. The title, indications of surveillance, listening devices, video surveillance? The benefit of this surveillance to those listening, its being exploited? Its being used as an expose for the criminals, especially at the banquet at the end?

4. The opening, the detailed setting up of the surveillance instruments in the office? The businessman coming to the office, the officers hiding? The set-up for the plot of the film?

5. The group and the surveillance, Johnny and the heading of the group, Gene and Max? Their work together? The suspicions of insider trading? The information received? Gene and Max, the decision to use the information? Johnny and his sympathy, playing along, not reporting them? Gene, his critically ill son, the hospital bills? The contrast with Max, his confrontation with his father-in-law? Social status? Johnny and his own personal life, his best friend, the friend’s wife, Mandy?

6. The detail of the men’s lives, interactions, personal and professional?

7. The background of the company, the company head? His deals? His charity? The international connections?

8. The build-up to the final banquet, the ruthlessness of the boss, his speech? The genial face? The charity and its raising money? The international guests?

9. The decision to put the surveillance material on the screen? His discussions, plans, even to murder?

10. The background violence, Johnny and the execution? Injuries?

11. The car, the boss and the getaway, the revelation of the driver – and his lack of concern for his own life, going onto the bridge, driving the car into the harbour?

12. Hong Kong themes of big business, the police, exploitation and crime?