BLOOD BROTHERS
Hong Kong, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Wu.
Directed by Alexi Tan.
Blood Brothers is a Chinese gangster film with a difference. It is character driven rather than action driven. It is set in Shanghai during the 1930s, a sumptuous period in Chinese history, the influence of Western styles, dress, music, nightclubs. This is the period of Zhang Yimou’s Shanghai Triad. It is also the period, which begins Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution. Other films utilising Shanghai’s location in the 20s and 30s include The White Countess and The Painted Veil.
In one sense, the plot is familiar. However, it is the interest in the characters, their interactions, and their moral crisis that retain the interest. There is gangster activity of the expected kind. There is also a final bloodbath - and the director, Alexi Tan, shows his love for and admiration of the spaghetti westerns.
Several of China and Hong Kong’s writing actors portray the three brothers. Two of them are actual brothers, the other their blood brother - and this theme of community is very strong in the gangster world. The main boss is betrayed by his right-hand man, considered his brother. He wreaks revenge on his brother and his former girlfriend. The three central brothers also have to face their life in the village, its poverty, their ambitions to go to Shanghai, the dreams of being waiters in a hotel, rickshaw jobs, eventually being caught up in the gangster world, even killing.
One of the brothers, the central brother, played by Daniel Wu, is a good man who finds himself killing others to save his blood brothers. He is also infatuated with the boss’ girlfriend, a would-be actress and nightclub singer. The other brother is dominant, power hungry, successful, and even eliminating rivals. However, he also kills his younger brother, a man affected by the violence, taken to drink, trying to save the hero.
The film recreates the period well, is lavish in décor and costumes, recreates the song and dance routines of the clubs of the 30s and the American style. It is a good character study - but some audiences may be alarmed at the spaghetti western bloodbath at the end.
1.The Chinese gangster film tradition? Films about the 30s, Shanghai, the historical period? The blend?
2.Village life, the streets? The contrast with Shanghai, the lavish sets, the streets, trams, rickshaws, the club, warehouses, offices? The context for the gangster film? The musical score?
3.Shanghai in the 30s, its place in China, the French section, the foreigners, the influences from the West, clothes, nightclubs, dancing, guns? The situation pre-World War Two?
4.The visual style, dramatic, period, gangster action? The homage to the spaghetti western?
5.The title, the importance of friendship, bonds, the consequences? The gangster fraternity and blood brothers? The emphasis on blood?
6.The opening, the snow, the death in the car, the comments on Paradise? Not Paradise?
7.The three friends, their life in the village, poor, Fung and his house, his mother, his girlfriend, sitting and talking with Hu, the dance, his shyness, Kang and his punching the intruders? Setting the tone?
8.Hu’s birthday, the watch (and the later use of it as a symbol)? Eating, talking, deciding to go to Shanghai, to be waiters?
9.The rickshaw life, the rude passengers? Kang as a waiter, at the club, the two going in? The dance routines, Hollywood style? Boss Hong, his entourage? Bodyguards? The atmosphere of the club?
10.Kang, the boss, offering him the job, going to the warehouse, uncovering the guns and stealing them, Fung standing guard, going away, showing to save his brothers? The banquet in their honour and Boss Hong’s thanks?
11.Mark and his attempt on Hong’s life, his wound, encountering Fung in the street, being saved? Friends, the later consequences?
12.Fung and Lulu, his admiration of her singing, dancing, the walk behind her, his admiration, her reaction, taking her out, taking her to the film studio, on the swing? The later kiss? Finding her with Mark, his embarrassment? His inability to fulfil the contract? His going to save Mark and Lulu, the shooting, taking them to the village?
13.Boss Hong, the deaths, the French representatives making objections, Hong and his involvement in the movies, his promise to Lulu? The man who was interrogated by Kang and burnt. Hong’s reaction? Visiting his rival, killing him? His anger at Kang? As a personality, his dance routines, Mark’s attempt on his life, the contract on Mark and Lulu, humiliating Lulu?
14.Fung, the effect of killing people, knowing their faces, pondering what had become of him?
15.Hu, his taking to drink, his being insulted, his brother bashing the insulter? His saving Fung, his shooting his brother, his death?
16.Kang, power, evil, the influence of Hong, burning the man after the interrogation? Killing Hong? Taking over, killing Uncle and the others?
17.The countryside, the idyllic peace, Lulu and Fung’s girlfriend, the mother, the two women going shopping, the assassination in the street?
18.The return to Shanghai, Mark and Fung, the bloodbath?
19.The end, Fung reflecting on what had happened to him? Mark and the issues of fate? The history of gangsters in China?
