Triads: The Inside Story

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Triads: The Inside Story
TriadsTheInsideStory.jpg
Film poster
Traditional Chinese 我在黑社會的日子
Simplified Chinese 我在黑社会的日子
Hanyu Pinyin Wǒ Zài Hēi Shè Huì De Rì Zi
Jyutping Ngo5 Zoi6 Hak1 Se2 Weoi5 Dik1 Jat6 Zi2
Directed byTaylor Wong
Screenplay byNam Yin
Story byKo Chun-wai
Produced byRichard Cheung
Starring Chow Yun-fat
Roy Cheung
Michael Chan
Shing Fui-On
Cinematography Herman Yau
Edited byA Chik
Ma Chung-yiu
Music by Lo Tayu
Richard Lo
Production
company
Distributed byCinema City
Release date
  • 4 August 1989 (1989-08-04)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box officeHK$14,038,799

Triads: The Inside Story is a 1989 Hong Kong crime drama film directed by Taylor Wong and starring Chow Yun-fat and Roy Cheung.

Contents

Plot

Lee Man-ho (Chow Yun-fat) is the son of Uncle Kwan (Tien Feng), the leader of the Hung Hing Gang. Ho was sent to the United States during his childhood to live a stable life where he established a family. Meanwhile, Uncle Kwan is ambushed and killed during a gang fight led by rival leader Shrimp (Kevin Wang). Ho returns to Hong Kong for his father's funeral. Upon his arrival, he is elected to be his father's successor as the leader of the Hung Hing Gang. Ho knows little of the culture and the criminal underworld, as Yeung Kong (Roy Cheung), often chastising Ho due to this fact. Kong also does not get along with Tse Shing (Michael Chan), another respected member. Kong and Shing get into a fight during a banquet. However due to Ho's intervention, they chose to maintain the harmony of the gang. Subsequently all members of Hung Hing Gang became loyal to Ho because Ho was always kind to them, valuing a sense of brotherhood.

Later in the film, during a fight, the members of the Hung Hing gang capture Coffin Rope (Lung Ming-yan), the head of a rival triad. Ho intends to kill the latter, but due to his lenient personality, Ho has Coffin Rope's eyebrows shaved off. Seeing as an opportunity for a counterattack, he colludes with Boss Chow (Pau Hon-lam), a wealthy businessman, then uses Kong and Shing's rivalry to his advantages. Coffin Rope sends his men to kill Shing's family and then frames Kong, worsening the relationship within the Hung Hing gang. He also puts cocaine in Kong's car and informs the police. Ho decides to save Kong and gets rid of Coffin Rope's triad. However, the police arrive and take Kong into custody. Before his arrest, Kong tells Ho that he is a kind leader, but not a good triad member.

Ho returns to the Hung Hing office and sets it on fire, putting an end to the triad society. Apologizing to his father and hoping that he will understand his actions, Ho returns to a normal life in America with his family.

Cast

Theme song

Reception

Mike Fury of Hong Kong Cinemagic gave the film a positive review praising the story being "far more dramatic and character driven rather than being reliant on overuse of action" and containing "a large number of references and cultural and historical traditions of the society, which was in fact quite rare for a film at this time" which stands out among other films in the same genre. Fury also praised the performances of Chow Yun-fat, Shing Fui-On, Michael Chan and Roy Cheung and praises director Taylor Wong for using "a very simplistic and disconnected method of direction, which, at times, gives the film an almost documentary feel in which the camera simply rolls while men are talking in a room and the audience is virtually eavesdropping." [1]

Box office

The film grossed HK$14,038,799 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 4 to 18 August 1989 in Hong Kong. [ citation needed ]

Accolades

Accolades
CeremonyCategoryRecipientOutcome
9th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Original Film SongSong: Shifting Sand Revolving in the Air (飛砂風中轉)

Composer: Lo Tayu
Lyricist: Richard Lam
Singer: Chow Yun-fat

Nominated

See also

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References

  1. "Hong Kong Cinemagic - Triads - The Inside Story Review".