Rhythm of Destiny

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Rhythm of Destiny
RhythmofDestiny.jpg
Film poster
Traditional Chinese 伴我縱橫
Simplified Chinese 伴我纵横
Hanyu Pinyin Bàn Wǒ Zòng Héng
Jyutping Bun6 Ngo2 Zung3 Waang4
Directed by Andrew Lau
Screenplay byJames Fung
Chan Po-sun
Produced byDanny Lee
Starring Danny Lee
Aaron Kwok
Sharla Cheung
CinematographyTony Miu
Edited byChan Kei-hop
Music byPhilip Chan
Production
company
Magnum Films
Distributed by Golden Princess Amusement
Release date
  • 2 April 1992 (1992-04-02)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Language Cantonese
Box officeHK$7,775,386

Rhythm of Destiny is a 1992 Hong Kong drama film directed by Andrew Lau, produced by and starring Danny Lee as a criminal who decides to retire and go straight. However, during an attempt to help his younger brother's (Aaron Kwok) singing career, he gets framed and convicted once again.

Contents

Plot

Lee Ka-yin (Danny Lee), nicknamed Bee, a diamond smuggler and former triad member and ex-con who have been imprisoned four times in the past, arrives in Taiwan for a business deal with Taiwanese triad leader, Hark (Blackie Ko). During the trade, Hark suggests Bee to smuggle cocaine, which Bee refuses. When Hark takes it as a joke, Bee pulls a gun on Hark, while one of Hark's henchman attempt to attack Bee and his underling, Kwan (Felix Lok), but Bee slices Hark's henchman with a sword. After the trade, Bee tells Kwan he wants to go straight and leave his criminal life while Kwan also longs to return to Hong Kong after hiding in Taiwan for three years due to an assault charge. Bee returns to Hong Kong and also gives Kwan some cash to illegally enter Hong Kong from boat.

Bee's younger brother, Kevin (Aaron Kwok) is a college student studying music and dance and aspires to be a singer. When Bee returns home, Kevin is delighted to see him, but not so much by his mother (Lisa Chiao Chiao) because his criminal past and kicks him out of the house. Bee assures his mother he has left criminal life and they move into a 1,400 square feet condo he bought for his family.

Bee then reconnects with his lover Hung (Sharla Cheung), a pub hostess. There, he also reconnects with Kwan and Superman (Shing Fui-On). Hung suggest Bee to acquire a nightclub from an owner is ready to emigrate, which Superman appoints himself to be manager. Kevin also arrives at the pub where he works as a part-time singer and performs on stage but Bee gets in an argument with rowdy patrons for being too loud. Kevin attempts to break up the argument but was punched and Bee attacks the patrons aided by Kwan and Superman.

At school, Kevin is persuaded by his classmates to participate in a singing contest. There, he also witnesses classmate Donna (Lucy Liu) during a dance rehearsal and asks her out afterwards. Bee then meets with Uncle Kau (Wu Ma) to lend money for acquiring the nightclub mentioned to him by Hung. Bee also mortgages his condo to Kau for an extra funds.

Kevin auditions for the singing contest and gets chosen. Bee, Superman and Kwan march in to the office of Yip Hon-leung, one of the judges of the singing contest and attempt to bribe him for Kevin to win. Bee, Hung, Superman and Kwan arrive to the singing contest to support Kevin, who ends up losing. Hung, Superman and Kwan assaults Yip while Bee attempts to stop them and Kevin gets arrested for assault and bribery. Bee admits to the charges to the police and gets convicted while Kevin is freed. Officer Wong (Parkman Wong) orders his subordinates to raid Bee's nightclub and finds a bag of cocaine hidden in his office by Kwan and Bee is also charged with drug possession which causes his mother to faint in court. She eventually dies in the hospital and Bee pleads with Officer Wong to allow him to attend his mother's funeral, where Kevin blames him for the death of their mother. Afterwards, Bee pleads guilty to his crimes and is sentenced to a combined term of 2 years and 9 months of imprisonment while his condo is also seized by the court.

During this depressing moment for Kevin, he is approached with s contract by record producer Peter Lai, who was one of the judges of the singing contest. Kevin's singing career takes off during Bee's time in prison and Hung visits him with a photo book of Kevin. After his release, Bee reunites with Hung and Superman, who has become a cleaner due to huge indebts. Bee and Hung attempt to visit Kevin in a birthday party with his fans, but Lai stops them in order to not affect his career and Bee leaves a gift of a necklace of a Christian cross. When Lai hands it to Kevin, he rushed out to see his brother who had left. Later, Hung gives Bee a ticket to Kevin's upcoming concert held in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Kwan, who is hiding in Taiwan for framing Bee, owes a huge debt to Hark. As Hark is about to chop his fingers off, Kwan then suggests Hark to kidnap Kevin in order to clear his debts. Bee attends Kevin's concert in Taiwan where his final song is dedicated to his brother. Kevin spots Bee at the audience when he throws a coin on stage. Afterwards, Bee goes backstage to see his brother and sees Kwan kidnapping Kevin. Bee saves his brother and kills Kwan with s samurai sword before Hark arrives and stabs Bee. Kevin then kills Hark and his henchmen and Bee dies in Kevin's arms.

Cast

Music

SongComposerLyricistSingerNotes
After All, Who Can Tell Me
(到底誰能告訴我)
Yutaka Ozaki Chang Fang-lu Aaron Kwok Theme song
Farewell Kiss During Midnight
(午夜的吻別)
Hsu Chia-liangChiang Tung-liangInsert theme
Heart Breaker Klarmann/Weber Fred Chen
I Do Not Admit Defeat
(我不認輸)
Andy Goldnark, Steve Kipner
Should I Quietly Walk Away
(我是不是該安靜的走開)
Chen Hsiu-nanChang Fang-lu
Say Love If You Like
(喜歡就說愛)
Ricky HoHe Hou-hua
I Give You All My Love
(我給你全部的愛)
Wang Yi-pingLin Mei-hsing

Production notes

Reception

Critical reception

Rhythm of Destiny earned a score of 6.9/10 stars on the Chinese media rating site, Douban. [2]

Box office

The film grossed a total of HK$7,775,386 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 2 to 25 April 1992. [3]

See also

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References

  1. Nava, Colt (11 October 2018). "10 Actors We Didn't Recognize In Their First Movies". Elite Readers. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. "伴我纵横 (1992)".
  3. Rhythm of Destiny at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase