RUDAO LONGHU BANG

Hong Kong, 2004, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Johnnie To.

This is a Johnny To film, To being a veteran director from the Hong Kong industry with a range of films like the martial arts myths of the Heroic Three to the police thriller Like Breaking News.

This is a martial arts film, focusing on a hero who is about to go blind but who wants to defeat any opponent in combat before he loses his sight. The other central character is a former champion who is a gambler, a victim of people manipulating his life and turning him into an alcoholic. The third character is a young woman, a very irritating and self-centred young woman who wants a job as a singer in a nightclub with the aim of going to Japan to appear in the movies. The lives of the three intertwine, especially in connection with another martial arts champion who is also linked with the gangster world of Hong Kong.

The film is a character study, highlighting the interactions between the three central characters. The martial arts fights are presented with vitality – and to the accompaniment of some Chinese songs.

Not as easily accessible for western audiences as other films from Hong Kong and other films by Johnny To.

1.The opening with the city of Hong Kong, its atmosphere? The film tradition, especially police dramas, martial arts? Gambling?

2.The martial arts at the opening, the song, the singer in the reeds – blind? The musical score throughout the film?

3.The central character, his training, fights, challenging the big man and betting, winning? In the club, watching the drunken gambler, his friends? Wanting to fight him? The challenge? The reason – and his losing his sight?

4.The drunken martial arts master, gambling, being led on by the group? The aftermath, his hangover, the young girl coming and applying for the job, singing? His own job, taking the two of them, the casino, exchanging the briefcase, the money, it blowing in the streets?

5.The aftermath with the money, letting the money go – the fighter and his not being interested in the money? The woman collecting it?

6.The portrait of the girl, being ousted from her lodgings? Her wilfulness? Domination, singing, getting the job, helping the martial arts master? Her ambition to go to Japan and be a singer? Wanting some kind of film career, no matter what?

7.The fighter, the gangsters, the challenge? The injury to his arm? Training, getting skills in using one arm, the second challenge to the fat man, winning the bet?

8.The climax, the rehabilitation of the fighter, his training, the two fighting together, his not knowing that the challenger was going blind? Thinking it was a joke?

9.The final fight, the hero, the gangster, his finally realising the man was blind – allowing him to win? His own skills? The blind singer?

10.The martial arts tradition – and this a variation on the theme?