

Li Man-Ho comes to Hong Kong after his father's death following a double crossed peace meeting at the hands of a rival gang. The family's business begins to crumble as rival organizations stir violence and trouble in acknowledgment of this weakness. Li Man-Ho reluctantly agrees after pressure from other members to temporarily act as leader in order to restore stability and order. But he is soon faced with violence, betrayal and confusion, in this world he tried so long to avoid.
Acting
Chow Yun-Fat's weary eyes carry entire scenes without dialogue.
Direction
Taylor Wong stages violence like tragic theater—messy, intimate, inevitable.
Costume
The suits are immaculate; the blood never quite washes out.

Director
Taylor Wong Tai-Loi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Hong Kong cinema's 'heroic bloodshed' explosion, this film captures the anxiety of pre-handover 1989—triads as metaphor for a colony unsure of its future leadership.
Chow Yun-Fat filmed this between A Better Tomorrow 2 and The Killer, during his legendary 1986-1990 run where he seemingly couldn't say no to any script involving a gun and a conscience.
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