EXILED (FONG JUK)
Hong Kong, 2006, 103 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Wong, Francis Ng, Nick Cheung, Josie Ho, Lam Suet, Simon Yam.
Directed by Johnny To.
Exiled is another action film from Hong Kong director Johnny To. To had made quite a number of films in the 80s and 90s but burst upon the international scene, especially with the two films Election and Election 2. Exiled is very much in this vein.
The film takes place in Macau in 1998 just prior to Portugal handing over the territory to the Chinese government. Hong Kong gangsters want to make money before the handover. The film is a portrait of the different gangs, the interactions with each other, the treachery? There are many set pieces as setups for shoot-outs between the various members of the gangs.
The film is not so much interested in characterisation yet, nevertheless, it draws strong portraits of its main protagonists. It is interesting as a picture of the darker side of Hong Kong and Macau society – and a social comment as well as a violent interpretation of people and times.
1. The films of Johnny To? Gangsters in Hong Kong and Macau? The social background, the political background?
2. The visual style, influence of such directors as Sergio Leone and Sam Peckinpah? The focus on faces, tableaux, action sequences and operatic style? Score?
3. The setting: 20th century ending, Macau, 1998, about to be ceded to China from Portugal? Hong Kong gangsters trying to make money before the handover, the social comment about Macau?
4. Opening, the gangsters arriving, Wo, the baby and wife, hesitation, Wo and his arrival in the truck? The men waiting outside, boss Fay and his orders to kill Wo? Wo as a renegade, the men following Wo into the house, the preparation for the shootout, emptying the bullets, getting the guns, the three way shootout, no one killing the other, the wife watching, the baby crying?
5. The background of the men, friends from their young days, the gangs, the phone calls to Blaze, the policemen watching, observing, passing through with Boss Fay’s permission? Getting the furniture, settling in the house, cooking the meal, the celebration, the photos with everyone in it?
6. The decision about what to do – the pressure from Boss Fay, his wanting to expand into Macau? The boss in Macau and the threats? The group deciding to steal the gold – available for police corruption?
7. Their going to the hotel, Jeff, his information, giving them the contracts and the prices for the murders? the rival boss? The prostitute in the hotel, watching?
8. The build-up to the assassination in the restaurant, the boss coming in, his bodyguards, Boss Fay arriving? Boss Fay and his anger with Blaze for not killing Wo, Wo being in the group? Blaze and his being slapped? The beginnings of the shoot-out, the words for the set-up? The staging of the shootings in the restaurant?
9. The group, their personalities, Blaze as the older man, loyalty to Boss Fay, sense of loyalty to the group? Cat and his cheekiness? Fat and his eye on the girls, jovial? The slicker criminal? Wo and his fitting into all of this?
10. The shoot-out, Wo being wounded, his being taken to the underground doctor? The doctor and his being with the prostitute, getting the money? Beginning the operation? Boss Fay arriving, their hiding, Boss Fay and his wounds, his wanting to be treated first? The set-up for a further shoot-out? The doctor being killed? The girl taking the money? The escape?
11. The five men and their grief at Wo's illness? Taking him home to his wife? His death? The wife and her anger, the gun? Her smashing the furniture, making a pile, burning the furniture and her husband’s body? Taking the baby?
12. The wife going to the hotel, trying to get the information about the men, showing the photo? The prostitute and her giving the information? Jeff and his collaboration?
13. The four men, driving out of the town, wandering, finding the Buddha Mountain? Their personalities, their interaction, memories, jovial with each other, teasing Fat? The arrival of the police with the gold truck? Their watching – tossing the coin, deciding not to attack?
14. The shoot-out and the robbers for the gold, the police being killed, the captain surviving? Their intervening and indicating where the attackers were? The confrontation with the sergeant? The discussion, his realising he would be blamed? Their decision to divide the gold? Packing it up?
15. Going to the hotel, Jeff’s betrayal, Wo's wife with the gun, her shooting at Blaze, his bullet-proof vest and his not dying? Her throwing the gun away? The two bosses and their presence?
16. The four men, their decision about the gold, giving the key of the car to Wo's wife, the gold in the car, her future?
17. The beginnings of the shoot-out, everybody dying? The prostitute taking the gold?
18. The Hong Kong style of gangster film? Codes of honour? Futility in being in a gang, the violent end? The critique of the gang culture – while glorifying it in a spectacular film?
