By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Johnny To
Starring: Simon Yam | Tian-lin Wang | Tony Leung Ka Fai
Original language title: Hak se wooi
Country: hong_kong
Year: 2007
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434008/
Bruce says: “Triads in Hong Kong are similar to Mafia families in Italy and the United States. Each triad controls a specific geographic area and often a certain type of criminal activity such as drug trafficking, gambling, smuggling, prostitution, running night clubs, money laundering and counterfeiting. In the 1930s there were only eight triads; today there are over fifty with some having members in the thousands. Knowing something about triad history helps in understanding the Hong Kong triad films, a genre that enjoys worldwide popularity. Personally I find it frustrating not knowing enough to determine what is fact and what is fiction.
“In ELECTION, following tradition, a leader of all triads is chosen every two years. Years ago, the election process and results were held sacred and never discussed. In the words of Uncle Teng (Tian-lin Wang), himself a past leader, ‘Years ago the identity of the chairman was kept secret.’ What was traditionally a democratic process is now being tested and the rules are changing in the eyes of some triad members. As the election nears two rivals emerge, Lok (Simon Yam) and Big D (Tony Leung Ka Fai). Big D is a loose cannon and quick to lose his temper in public, a characteristic that makes many of the elders nervous. Big D has runners covering Hong Kong buying votes with monetary and promissory bribes. Some elders say Big D is betraying tradition but he claims ‘Business is everything now.’
“Lok, on the other hand, remains cool as a cucumber. As time passes we learn the clam exterior is strictly for show and he, too, has moved into the modern age. The new chairman will be the keeper of the coveted carved ebony dragon baton; the current chairman has safely hidden the baton in mainland China. The race is on to get possession of the baton thus eliminating the need for an election.
“What follows is a modern action packed thriller with an old fashioned touch. Watching grown men – with zest equaling that of Harry Potter or Indiana Jones – in hot pursuit of an object (the baton) with inestimable intrinsic value is hard to take seriously. Since I’m a novice in respect to Hong Kong triad filmography, I cannot pit ELECTION against anything other than the INFERNAL AFFAIRS trilogy which, in my opinion, has more class and pizzazz. To fill in the gap, I’m making sure that some John Woo’s films like A BETTER TOMORROW and HARD BOILED get into my Netflix queue.
“Both Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka Fai contribute heavily to the film’s credibility; their acting is first rate. Another terrific performance is that of Tian-lin Wang who plays Uncle Teng. Beware, in ELECTION excessive violence is the norm. 3 cats”