Limbo (2021 film)

For the British comedy-drama film, see Limbo (2020 film).

Limbo
Official film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	智齒
Simplified Chinese	智齿
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhì Chǐ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Zi3 Ci2
Directed by	Soi Cheang
Written by	Au Kin-yee Shum Kwan-sin
Based on	Wisdom Tooth by Lei Mi
Produced by	Wilson Yip Paco Wong
Starring	Gordon Lam Cya Liu Mason Lee Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung
Edited by	David Richardson
Music by	Kenji Kawai
Production companies	Sun Entertainment Culture Bona Film Group Er Dong Pictures Aether Film Production
Distributed by	Just Distribution Limited
Release dates	1 March 2021 (2021-03-01)(Berlinale) 18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)(Hong Kong)
Running time	118 minutes
Countries	China, Hong Kong
Languages	Cantonese Japanese English
Budget	US$16 million [1]
Box office	HK$1,276,603 [2]

Limbo is a 2021 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Soi Cheang and starring Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi. The film is based on the novel Wisdom Tooth by Chinese novelist Lei Mi. ^[3]

The film had its worldwide premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival on 1 March 2021, ^[4] and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021. ^[5] The film enjoyed box office success in France. ^[6]

Plot

Rookie police officer Will Yam (Mason Lee) is a recent graduate of the police academy. Due to a wave of serial killings, Will is partnered with veteran officer Cham Lau (Gordon Lam), who was recently reinstated on the force. However, the duo is unable to solve the cases and instead causes a series of incidents. Later, Cham re-encounters a drug-addicted street urchin, Wong To (Cya Liu), who ran over his wife and daughter in the past, and his anger makes him spiral out of control and continuously abuse her. Will clumsily loses his pistol, which is found by the serial killer. With the killer lurking in the city, a crisis grows closer.

Cast

• Gordon Lam as Cham Lau (劉中選), respectfully referred to as Brother Cham (斬哥), a veteran police officer of the Regional Crime Unit.
• Cya Liu as Wong To (王桃), a drug-addicted street urchin who ran over Cham's wife in a DUI, leaving her in a vegetative state and becomes Cham's informant in order to repent her past mistake.
• Mason Lee as Will Yam (任凱), a rookie police officer of the Regional Crime Unit and Cham's new partner.
• Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Yamada Akira (山田收), a waste picker with Oedipus complex and acrotomophilia.
• Fish Liew as Coco (可樂), a disabled drug dealer.
• Hugo Ng as Chief (大Sir), Cham and Will's superior officer.
• Sammy Sum as Boss Spark (逼啪)
• Hanna Chan as Will's wife
• Kumer as Grizzly (灰熊)

Production

Principal photography for Limbo began in September 2017 in Hong Kong and wrapped up after three months filming, with To Kwa Wan and Kwun Tong being the main filming locations as many old buildings are located in these districts of the city. ^[7]

On 2 October 2017, filming of a fight scene between actors Gordon Lam and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi took place on a rooftop in Kwun Tong. Both Lam and Ikeuchi lost 8 pounds and 30 pounds of weight respectively for their roles in the film. ^{[8] [7]} On 8 October 2017, which was also Lam's birthday, filming took place in Kowloon Bay for a scene where Lam was going through a garbage chute looking for evidence. ^{[9] [10]}

The film was released in black-and-white. ^[11]

Release

Limbo had its world premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, which was held virtually from 1 to 5 March 2021. ^[4] The film was later shown in competition at the 23rd Far East Film Festival from 25 to 26 June 2021 ^[12] where it won the Purple Mulberry Award ^[13] The film was released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021. ^[14]

Reception

Gordon Lam and Cya Liu's performance received critical acclaim. Liu's performance earned her Best Actress award at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Box office

In Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$740,238 during its first four days of release, opening at No. 5 during its debut weekend. In its second weekend, the film grossed HK$563,365, coming in at No. 10, and have grossed a total of HK$1,276,603 so far. ^[2]

The film enjoyed box office success in France with 51,254 tickets sold nationwide, ^[15] the film outgrossed X (2022) and became distributor Kinovista's highest-grossing release. ^{[16] [17]}

Critical reception

Lee Marshall of Screen Daily praises director Cheang Pou-soi's "dystopian vision of an Asian metropolis in the throes of a political and social identity crisis" as the film's "most striking feature." ^[18] Jessica Kiang of Variety praises the film's well-choreographed action sequences which complement Cheng Siu-Keung's dazzling camera work. ^[11]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
2021	23rd Far East Film Festival	MYmovies Purple Mulberry Award	Limbo	Won	[19]
2022	28th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards	Best Film	Limbo	Won	[20]
		Best Director	Cheang Pou-soi	Nominated
		Best Actor	Gordon Lam	Nominated
		Best Actress	Cya Liu	Won
	40th Hong Kong Film Awards	Best Film	Limbo	Nominated	[21]
		Best Director	Cheang Pou-soi	Nominated
		Best Actor	Gordon Lam	Nominated
		Best Actress	Cya Liu	Won
		Best Supporting Actress	Fish Liew	Nominated
		Best Screenplay	Au Kin-yee, Shum Kwan Sin	Won
		Best Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Won
		Best Art Direction	Kenneth Mak, Renee Wong	Won
		Best Film Editing	David Richardson	Nominated
		Best Costume & Make Up Design	Bruce Yu, Karen Yip	Nominated
		Best Original Film Score	Kenji Kawai	Nominated
		Best Action Choreography	Jack Wong Wai-leung	Nominated
		Best Visual Effects	Garrett Lam, Ho Man Lok, Diu King Wai	Nominated
		Best Sound Design	Nopawat Likitwong	Nominated
	59th Golden Horse Awards	Best Narrative Feature	Limbo	Nominated	[22] [23]
		Best Director	Cheang Pou-soi	Nominated
		Best Leading Actor	Gordon Lam	Nominated
		Best Leading Actress	Cya Liu	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Mason Lee	Nominated
		Best Adapted Screenplay	Au Kin-yee and Shum Kwan-sin	Won
		Best Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Won
		Best Visual Effects	Garrett Lam, Ho Man-lok and Diu King-wai	Won
		Best Art Direction	Mak Kwok-keung and Renee Wong	Won
		Best Makeup & Costume Design	Bruce Yu Ka-on and Karen Yip	Nominated
		Best Action Choreography	Jack Wong Wai-leung	Nominated
		Best Original Film Score	Kenji Kawai	Nominated
		Best Film Editing	David M. Richardson	Nominated
		Best Sound Effects	Nopawat Likitwong	Nominated
		Audience Choice Award	Limbo	Won

References

1. Shackleton2018-03-18T23:59:00+00:00, Liz. "Bravos Pictures brings action titles to Filmart, including 'Limbo' with Lam Ka Tung (exclusive)". Screen.
2. "HKTDC". event.hktdc.com.
3. "Keep Pressing on: Soi Cheang Discusses "Limbo"". 6 August 2021.
4. Grater, Tom (11 February 2021). "Berlinale Unveils Competition Line-Up: New Pics From Daniel Bruhl, Celine Sciamma, Radu Jude, Xavier Beauvois & Hong Sang-soo". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 11 February 2021.
5. "【2021年上映】鄭保瑞新作《智齒》 回歸港產暴力美學 (20:26) - 20200827 - SHOWBIZ". 明報OL網.
6. "X : La critique du film de Ti West".
7. "雷米小說《智齒》改編電影在港熱拍".
8. "挑戰古天樂做打仔 林家棟 雨中肉搏 爆肌日星".
9. "Gordon Lam: Cheang Pou Soi loves his trash!". sg.style.yahoo.com. 11 October 2017.
10. "Headlife | 頭條日報". 頭條日報 Headline Daily.
11. "'Limbo' Review: A Stylish but Sordid Hong Kong Cop Thriller That Doesn't Know When to Quit". 11 March 2021.
12. "Limbo". www.fareastfilm.com.
13. "Japan's Midnight Swan wins the Far East Film Festival 23!". www.fareastfilm.com.
14. "【2021年上映】鄭保瑞新作《智齒》 回歸港產暴力美學 (20:26) - 20200827 - SHOWBIZ". 明報OL網.
15. https://www.cbo-boxoffice.com/v4/page000.php3?inc=fichemov.php3&fid=33333 ^{[ bare URL ]}
16. "X : La critique du film de Ti West".
17. https://www.cbo-boxoffice.com/v4/page000.php3?Xnumitem=110&inc=ficheact.php3&aid=148894 ^{[ bare URL ]}
18. Marshall2021-03-03T16:30:00+00:00, Lee. "'Limbo': Berlin Review". Screen.
19. "MIDNIGHT SWAN (GIAPPONE) VINCE IL FAR EAST FILM FESTIVAL 23!". Far East Film Festival (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
20. "第二十八屆香港電影評論學會大獎得獎理由撮要".
21. "Nomination List of The 40th Hong Kong Film Awards".
22. "Hong Kong film 'Limbo' leads Golden Horse Award nominations - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
23. "金馬59兩大會外賽獎：香港《智齒》觀眾票選最佳影片，台灣《一家子兒咕咕叫》獲費比西獎". The News Lens 關鍵評論網 (in Chinese). 18 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.

External links

• Limbo at IMDb