Election (2005 film)

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Election
Traditional 黑社會
Simplified 黑社会
Directed by Johnnie To
Produced by Dennis Law
Johnnie To
Written by Yau Nai-Hoi
Yip Tin-Shing
Starring Simon Yam
Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Louis Koo
Nick Cheung
Music by Lo Tayu
Cinematography Cheng Siu-Keung
Editing by Patrick Tam
Studio Milkyway Image
One Hundred Years of Film
Distributed by China Star Entertainment Group
(Hong Kong)
China Film Group
(China)
Release date(s) 20 October 2005
Running time 101 minutes
(Theatrical Cut)
85 minutes
(Chinese Cut)
Country Hong Kong
Language Cantonese
Mandarin

Election (traditional Chinese: 黑社會; simplified Chinese: 黑社会; pinyin: Hēi shèhuì; Cantonese Yale: Hak se wui; Literal Title: Black Society, a common Cantonese reference to the society of Triads), is a 2005 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To. Featuring a large ensemble cast, the film stars Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-Fai as two gang leaders engaged in a power struggle to become the new leader of the Hong Kong Triad society.

The film premiered as an "Official Selection" at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival,[1] before being released in Hong Kong on 20 October 2005, with a Category III rating. A sequel to the film, Election 2 (also known as Triad Election in the United States), concluded the film, and was released in 2006.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The movie begins as the two-year term expires, and all the elders of the Wo Shing society are in the process of electing a new chairman, with some last-minute "campaigning" from both Lok (Simon Yam) and Big D (Leung) a few days prior to the election. After bitter arguments from supporters of both candidates in the likes of Uncle Cocky (played by veteran TV actor Tam Ping Man) and Uncle Monk, Lok is elected as the new chairman. However, Big D is dismayed by the result and proceeds to punish two men responsible for his loss by kidnapping them and rolling them down a hill in boxes, prompting ex-chairman Whistle to ask his lieutenant Four-Eye to hide the dragon head baton, which is a symbol of power for the leader.

In the meantime, Chief Superintendent Hui and the police, as well as the police in China arrests all the key figures that include Uncle Teng, Big D, Cocky, Monk and the newly-elected chairman Lok of the Wo Shing in an attempt to avoid infighting within the society. However, during a negotiation attempt in a holding cell, Big D's plans of organizing a new triad society are uncovered, which infuriates both Teng & Hui. Meanwhile, a pursuit of the baton ensues in which Kun (Blacky's henchman), who is recovering the baton for Big D catches up with Big Head (Tally's henchman), who holds the baton and is recovering it for Lok. During the confrontation, Kun severely beats Big Head with a giant log in order for him to hand out the baton when Kun's boss informs him that the plan has changed and that Kun is to recover the baton for Lok. The leaders are eventually released on bail and after hours of never-ending pursuit between Kun, Jimmy, and Jet on route, Lok eventually receives the baton from Jimmy thus making his election official.

Despite negotiations with Big D after his bail, Lok murders his nemesis with a boulder during a fishing trip with his son, Denny, Big D and D's wife after Big D insisted on proposing the idea of two chairmans and the sharing of power between them. As Lok is killing D, D's wife witnesses Lok and makes a run for it causing Lok to murder her too by strangling her against a tree with a log. D and his wife are then buried before Lok drives away with Denny, who becomes petrified after witnessing his dad's brutality as the movie comes to an end.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Release

[edit] Reception

Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino loved the film so much that his quote stating that Election was "The Best Film Of The Year" was used on the film's United States DVD cover.[2]

[edit] Box office

At the end of its box-office run in Hong Kong, Election grossed about HK$15.59 million in Hong Kong, which is considered to be quite high for a film that received a Category III rating (18+ restriction) in Hong Kong.

[edit] Distribution

Election was sold to more than 21 territories, including to Optimum Releasing for the UK, ARP Sélection for France and Hopscotch Films for Australia, after screening at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival in competition. (Tartan Films has acquired all US rights to this movie as of May 2006.)

[edit] Awards and nominations

The movie is notable in being nominated for 14 Golden Horse Awards in Hong Kong cinema. The film was named best film of 2005 in the Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, with To also clinching Best Director honors for the movie.

Awards
Award Category Name Outcome
25th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Picture Won
Best Director Johnnie To Won
Best Actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai Won
Best Screenplay Yau Nai-Hoi
Yip Tin-Shing		 Won
Best Actor Simon Yam Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Wong Tin-Lam Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Maggie Siu Nominated
Best Cinematography Cheng Siu-Keung Nominated
Best Film Editing Patrick Tam Kar-Ming Nominated
Best Original Film Score Lo Tayu Nominated
Golden Horse Film Awards Best Picture Nominated
Best Director Johnnie To Nominated
Best Screenplay Yau Nai-Hoi
Yip Tin-Shing		 Won
Best Actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Wong Tin-Lam Nominated
Best Sound Effects May Mok
Charlie Lo		 Won
Best Cinematography Cheng Siu-Keung Nominated
Best Original Film Score Lo Tayu Nominated
Best Make-up and Costume Design Stanley Cheung Nominated
Best Action Choreography Wong Chi-Wai Nominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Picture Won
Best Director Johnnie To Won
Festival de Cine de Sitges Best Director Johnnie To Won

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Election". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4282802/year/2005.html. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 
  2. ^ [1]

[edit] External links

Films directed by Johnnie To
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Films with
Wai Ka-Fai
Co-director
See also
1990s films
Beyond Hypothermia (1996) • Final Justice (1996) • Too Many Ways to Be No. 1 (1996) • The Odd One Dies (1997) • The Intruder (1997) • The Longest Nite (1998) • Expect the Unexpected (1998) • A Hero Never Dies (1998) • Sealed with a Kiss (1999) • Where a Good Man Goes (1998) • Running Out of Time (1999) • The Mission (1999)
2000s films
Spacked Out (2000) • Needing You... (2000) • Help!!! (2000) • Comeuppance (2000) • Wu yen (2001) • Love on a Diet (2001) • Fulltime Killer (2001) • Let’s Sing Along (2001) • Running Out of Time 2 (2001) • Second Time Around (2001) • Fat Choi Spirit (2002) • My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002) • Love For All Seasons (2003) • PTU (2003) • Looking for Mr. Perfect (2003) • Turn Left, Turn Right (2003) • Running on Karma (2003) • Breaking News (2004) • Throw Down (2004) • Yesterday Once More (2004) • Election (2005) • 2 Become 1 (2006) • Election 2 (2006) • Exiled (2006) • Eye in the Sky (2007) Triangle (2007) • Hooked on You (2007) • Mad Detective (2007) • Linger (2008) • Sparrow (2008) • Tactical Unit - The Code (2008) • Tactical Unit - No Way Out (2008) • Tactical Unit - Human Nature (2008) • Tactical Unit - Partners (2009) • Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (2009) • Accident (2009) • Vengeance (2009)
2010s films
Filmmakers
Screenwriters
Crew
Dennis Law • Cheng Siu-Keung • Martin Chappell • May Mok • Patrick Tam • Lai Yiu-Fai • David M. Richardson
See also
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