directed by John Woo with Tony Leung (Chi-Wai), Jacky Cheung, Waise Lee, Simon Yam, Fennie Yuen, Yolinda Yam, John Woo (cameo)
written by John Woo produced by John Woo executive produced by Terence Chang year: 1990
Cantonese: Dip Huet Gaai Tau Mandarin: Die2 Xue4 Jie1 Tou2 Literary translated: Bloodshed Street Corner Big5: ³ã¦åµóÀY
In 1967 three friends are forced to leave Hong Kong and flee to war-torn Vietnam where they want
to make some fast money. With the help of an ex-CIA agent they get what they want in form of a
chest full of gold which puts their friendship to the test.
When thinking about the best movie ever this one comes to mind. Though other films of John Woo
are not far behind this is still his best work, mixing youth, war and gangster drama, themes
of friendship, the power of money, violent scenes of war and Woo's trademark action to one
powerful epic which won't leave you emotionless (the one way or the other). All of the cast act
well, but Simon Yam's performance is one of his best.
Facts
allegedly cost 6.5 million
flopped at the box office
was influenced by the Tiananmen Square-massacre in 1989
autobiograhpical elements in the first part of the movie
some French influences: picture of Catherine Deneuve, the piano, the killer
war scenes were filmed in Thailand (and went not without injuries for cast and staff)
after the financial desaster of Bullet Woo gave the audience what it wanted to see:
the light-hearted romantic comedy Once a Thief
