A Fighter's Blues

A Fighter's Blues
Film poster
Traditional Chinese	阿虎
Simplified Chinese	阿虎
Hanyu Pinyin	Ā Hǔ
Jyutping	A3 Fu2
Directed by	Daniel Lee
Screenplay by	Cheung Chi-sing Daniel Lee Lee Hau-shek
Story by	Daniel Lee
Produced by	Andy Lau Derek Yee Catherine Hun
Starring	Andy Lau
Cinematography	Venus Keung Sunny Tsang Thomas Yeung
Edited by	Azrael Chung
Music by	Henry Lai Wan-man
Production company	Teamwork Motion Pictures
Distributed by	China Star Entertainment Group
Release date	21 December 2000 (2000-12-21)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Languages	Cantonese English Thai Japanese
Box office	HK$22,002,055

A Fighter's Blues (Chinese: 阿虎) is a 2000 Hong Kong drama film written and directed by Daniel Lee, produced by and starring Andy Lau. Lau, who displays profound emotions as a kickboxer who persistently pursues dignity and honorary value in the film, was awarded the Golden Bauhinia Awards for Best Actor for his performance. Released on 21 December 2000, A Fighter's Blues is Lau's 100th film role.

Plot

After spending 13 years in jail for killing one of his opponents Chat Chai in the dressing room after breaking up the fight because of a quarrel with his girlfriend Pim, Mong Fu (Andy Lau), a washed up Muay Thai kickboxer returns to Thailand to look for his old love. Upon arrival in Bangkok, he finds out that she died and that he has a 14-year-old daughter. He finds the orphanage and meets his daughter and starts a relationship with sister Mioko who runs the orphanage. To clean his past, he challenges the current and more than 15 years younger champion, who wants to avenge Chai. In the end, Mong Fu passes away from his injuries during the fight, but not without gaining back the acceptance and the respect of his daughter and rest of the world, including the very fighter who fights him.

Cast

• Andy Lau as Mong Fu
• Takako Tokiwa as Sister Mioko
• Intira Jaroenpura as Pim Nathasiri
• Dickens Chan as Mong Fu's coach
• Chan Man-yee
• Venus Keung
• Kam Loi-kwan as Mong Fu's cornerman
• Kowit Wattanakui as Sombat
• Samart Payakaroon as Chart-Chai Payakaroon (mistakenly credited as "Samart Tayakaroon")
• Apichaya Thanatthanapong as Ploy
• Niruj Soasudchart as Tawon
• Ekachai Waritchaaporn as Ray
• Peemachai Pengphol as Popeye
• Sagat Porntavee as Sagat
• Manunya Limsatain as Moon
• Chaleampan Junthong as Ann
• Bismillah Nana as May
• Thapakorn Maungkrang as Little boxer
• Juthaimas Changthong as Prae
• Gunyarat Maunboon as Jane
• Nutvara Hongsuwan as Alice
• Sirinthorn Kittisrisawai as White
• Natalie Stybert as Natalie
• Suchai Tigitnalerd as Thai commentator
• Philip Wilson as Ray's coach
• Visapas Puemsuotavee as Eagle
• Suwat Sfechompoo as Somar
• Nizondh Chaisirikul as Somar's coach
• Stephen Fox as Commentator
• Suchao Pongvilai as General
• Kowit Butrachart as Carlos
• Aroon Lam as Master Lui
• Kwok Siu-hang as Mong Fu's cornerman
• Reila Aphrodite

Reception

A Fighter's Blues was a box office success in Hong Kong, grossing HK$22,002,055 during its theatrical run from 21 December 2000 to 31 January 2001, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2000 in the territory.

The film received mixed reviews and has a score of 56 out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes, but was praised for the beautiful locations in Thailand, use of flashbacks, the acting of the main cast, and the editing of the fight scenes.

Andy Lau trained extensively in Muay Thai for his role as Mong Fu.

Soundtrack

Theme song

• When I Met You (當我遇上你)
  • Composer: Jacky Chan
  • Lyricist/Singer: Andy Lau

Sub theme

• Smile (微笑)
  • Composer: Henry Lai Wan-man
  • Lyricist/Singer: Andy Lau

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Ceremony	Category	Recipient	Result
6th Golden Bauhinia Awards
	Best Actor	Andy Lau	Won
	Top 10 Chinese-language Films	A Fighter's Blues	Won
20th Hong Kong Film Awards
	Best Actor	Andy Lau	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Venus Keung	Nominated
	Best Film Editing	Azrael Chung	Nominated
7th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards	Best Actor	Andy Lau	Nominated

External links

• A Fighter's Blues at IMDb