PTU

Hong Kong, 2003, 88 minutes, Colour.
Simon Yam, Maggie Siu, Lam Suet, Ruby Wong.
Directed by Johnny To.

Hong Kong has produced more than its fair share of police action thrillers. And director Johnnie To has made many of them. This one is considered a more personal project as his own company made it. All things considered, it is an interesting and entertaining thriller, taking place over one night, with complicated strands about the city’s gangs and gangsters as well as giving a complex picture of the police who are not above rough hand (and rough foot) tactics for getting information.

PTU is the Police Tactical Unit. We see them in action, although the more authoritative and controlled CID join in the investigation of the murder of the son of one of Hong Kong’s principal gangsters.

After PTU, Johnnie To became a director whose films were sought for festivals, especially Cannes and Venice, with such high flying entries as Breaking News, The Election series, Exiled and his collaboration with Tsui Hark and Ringo Lam, Triangle (and over the top – and beyond – version of a video game). However, PTU shows the essential Johnnie To.

1.The work of Johnny To? His police thrillers? His expertise in creating atmosphere, the work of the police, crimes?

2.The Hong Kong settings, one night, the passing of the night, the diner, the streets, the alleys? Homes? The action sequences? The musical score?

3.The title, the police tactic unit? Their work, their working together?

4.The prologue, the solidarity in the troupe (or troop?)? Loyalties to dead comrades?

5.The diner, Ponytail and his gang, the subservience of the diner owner, shifting tables for them? Sergeant Lo coming in and getting his table? The young man who was moved around? Phone calls, Sergeant Lo going out, his car being painted, the chase? His losing his gun? Ponytail sending the group out? The young man stabbing him? His going out of the café, trying to drive the car, the crash and his death? His mobile phone?

6.The complications of Ponytail’s father and his wanting vengeance on the rival gang leader? Sergeant Lo in the middle, the phone calls, the set-up at 4.00am, the two leaders trusting Lo, confronting each other? The shootout? The other gang and the young man, his being at the telephone box, the mobile phone? The shootout and their deaths?

7.Mike, his being in charge of the squad? The investigation? The CID coming in? The female officer in charge, stern? The female officer with Mike and the issue of phoning in the absent gun? The crime scene, the mobile phone, Lo making a mistake, the later discovery of the switch with the phones?

8.Mike, suspects, the brutal action of his squad? The young man with the asthma, his revival? The kicking of victims? Mike, the contact with Lo, the search for the gun?

9.Lo, going to the gun shop, changing the bought gun to be like his own? The irony of the finale where he found his gun and used it against the young man?

10.The various personalities, the various responsibilities, the PTU, the CID? The tailing of the criminals, everybody being present at the shootout? The advice to the CID officer to shoot her gun, to sound better in her report?

11.The storytelling, the action and pace, the complexities of the plot? The build-up to the confrontation and shootout? A satisfying police thriller? Hong Kong style?