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Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Traditional Chinese九龍城寨之圍城
Directed bySoi Cheang
Screenplay byAu Kin-yee
Chan Tai-lei
Lai Chun
Based onCity of Darkness
by Andy Seto
Produced byJohn Chong
Peter Lam
Wilson Yip
StarringLouis Koo
Raymond Lam
Terrance Lau
Philip Ng
Tony Wu
German Cheung
Sammo Hung
CinematographyCheng Siu-Keung
Edited byCheung Ka-fai
Music byKenji Kawai
Production
companies
Media Asia Films
Entertaining Power
One Cool Film Production Limited
Sil-Metropole Organisation
Lianray Pictures
HG Entertainment
Distributed byMedia Asia Distributions
Release dates
  • April 25, 2024 (2024-04-25) (MCL Movie Town)
  • May 1, 2024 (2024-05-01) (Hong Kong)
Running time
126 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is a 2024 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Soi Cheang and co-written by Au Kin-yee, Chan Tai-lei, and Lai Chun. Featuring an ensemble cast including Louis Koo, Raymond Lam, Richie Jen, Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Philip Ng, Tony Wu, German Cheung and Sammo Hung, the film is loosely adapted from the Hong Kong manhua series City of Darkness authored by Andy Seto, which is based on Yu-Wing Leung's 2009 novel of the same name. Set in the demolished ungoverned enclave of Kowloon Walled City in British Hong Kong, the film revolves around a troubled youth named Chan Lok-kwan (Lam) who seeks refuge in the walled city and is enlisted by the city's guardian leader, Tornado (Koo), to resist the invasion of the crimelord Mr. Big (Hung).

Having been in development since the early 2010s, the film underwent changes in directors and writers and was stuck in development hell for almost a decade. Cheang was attached to the project in February 2021, along with Koo and Jen as the leading cast. Principal photography began in November of the same year and wrapped in April 2022. The film had a budget of approximately US$39 million, which included the construction of a replica set of the Kowloon Walled City, making it one of the most expensive Hong Kong productions of all time.

The film premiered at MCL Movie Town on April 25, 2024, followed by a theatrical release in Hong Kong on May 1. It was also selected for screening at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

Synopsis

[edit]

Cast

[edit]
  • Louis Koo as Cyclone: a martial arts master who strives to protect the safety and stability of the residents in the Kowloon Walled City.[1][2]
  • Raymond Lam as Chan Lok-kwun: a refugee who settled in the walled city but became entangled in the chaos within and faced the imminent demolition of the city.[1]
  • Terrance Lau as Shin: the loyal second-in-command of Cyclone's outlaw gang, who later becomes a companion to Lok.[2]
  • Philip Ng as King: Mr. Big's unhinged and indestructible right-hand man.[1]
  • Tony Wu as Twelfth Master: a katana-wielding member of Tiger's mafia and Cyclone's outlaw gang, who later becomes a companion to Chan.[2]
  • German Cheung as AV: a medic and kickboxer in Cyclone's outlaw gang, who later becomes a companion to Chan.[2]
  • Sammo Hung as Mr. Big: a crimelord rival to Cyclone, who solely focuses on maximizing his wealth and personal interests.

Also appearing in the film are Richie Jen as Chau, a mafia boss-turned-landlord and blood brother of Cyclone, who lost his family at the hands of Jim;[2] Kenny Wong as Tiger: a mafia boss based in Temple Street and an acquaintance of Cyclone, who lost an eye in a fight with Jim.[2] Residents of the Walled City include Fish Liew as Yin Fan, a fishmonger with affiliations with Shin;[3] Chu Pak Hong as a drug addict;[4] Law Wing-cheong as Uncle Lang, a grocery store owner; Sean Wong as a child who nearly falls victim to King;[5] and wuxia novelist Jozev Kiu cameos as Double Blade, a restaurateur and skilled swordsman loyal to Cyclone.[2] Cecilia Choi appears as Jim's deceased wife;[4] and Deon Cheung appears as a government official.[6] Additionally, Aaron Kwok makes a cameo appearance as Chan Jim, the Killer King, a martial artist and Chan Lok-kwun's father, who serves as Cyclone's enemy but is secretly acquainted with him.[2] Chung Suet Ying was initially cast in a role, but did not appear in the film.[7]

Production

[edit]

On 13 April 2013, Media Asia announced the project was to be titled Dragon City and set to be directed by Derek Kwok and starring Donnie Yen, who would also serve as action director and producer through his production company, Super Hero Films, and was set to begin production in September of that year.[8][9]

After seemingly stuck in development hell for several years, Media Asia once again announced the project on 28 February 2021, with Soi Cheang set to direct while Koo, Richie Jen and Zhang Jin are set to star.[10] Principal photography for Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In officially began on 22 November 2021, as was revealed in a post on the film's official Facebook page, although the cast was not revealed yet until the film held its production commencement ceremony on 30 November, which was attended by Cheang, producers John Chong and Wilson Yip and cast members Koo, Sammo Hung, Jen, Raymond Lam, Terrance Lau, Kenny Wong, Tony Wu, German Cheung, Philip Ng, Chu Pak Hong and Chung Suet Ying. There Koo revealed that two replica sets of the Kowloon Walled City were built for filming, while actual magazines, record albums, televisions and commercials from the 1980s will be used as props.[11][12] All the main cast spent a year training to prepare for the film's fight scenes.[13]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began on November 30, 2021.[14] The crew initially planned to film in mainland China but changed to Hong Kong due to the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] The production crew spent over HK$300 million on set construction, building three major on-scale replica sets: one in an unrented land in Kowloon Bay, another in the abandoned Tat Tak School in Yuen Long, and the third at the Shaw Studios and Shing Fung Studios in Sai Kung. These sets covered approximately 80 to 90% of the actual size of the Kowloon Walled City.[16][17] Set decoration was overseen by art director Kenneth Mak.[18] Mak and the crew conducted extensive research using photos and archives that documented the Kowloon Walled City, aiming to replicate the residents' way of life.[16] They gathered vintage antiques such as household goods, electrical appliances, as well as metal gates and window grilles salvaged from buildings slated for demolition, which were used as props on set.[16] Numerous three to four-story buildings were constructed, paying close attention to the chaotic entwinement of electrical wires and water pipes.[17] Additionally, wheels were added to most of the set, which featured over ten interchangeable stage sceneries.[16][18] Mak described the entire set as a "moving castle".[16]

Filming commenced in the replica set in Yuen Long, which included scenes set in the temple, bamboo theatre, Double Blade's two-deck cha chaan teng, and Mr. Big's lair.[17] The production crew then moved to the Sai Kung set, featuring a 200-meter long main street.[17] Scenes shot there included Chan and the outlaw gang taking vigilante action against a drug addict in an alley.[17] Originally scheduled to wrap up after the Lunar New Year of 2022, filming was briefly paused on February 25 due to COVID-19 spreading on set, resulting in actor Deon Cheung and several crew members getting infected.[19][20] Production resumed in March in the replica set built in Kowloon Bay.[19] On March 23, action scenes of Raymond Lam being chased and fighting on a bus near the set were filmed.[19] Additional scenes were shot at the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market and on Nathan Road.[15] Filming concluded in April 2022.[21]

M+ engaged in discussions with the crew regarding the possible purchase and preservation of the entire replica set for exhibition purposes, but the negotiations did not succeed and all three sets were demolished after the production wrapped up.[16] A day was reserved for aerial shots of the entire Kowloon Bay replica set before the demolition.[16]

Release

[edit]

[6]

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is set for theatrical release on 1 May 2024 in Hong Kong and China. The film was also selected to be in the Official Selection (Midnight Screening) of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival which will run from 14 to 25 May 2024.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Lee, Edmund (May 1, 2024). "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In movie review – Kowloon Walled City reimagined in Soi Cheang martial arts spectacle". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 莫匡堯 (May 1, 2024). "九龍城寨之圍城｜劇情角色介紹　戰力寫實拳拳到肉洗走都市武俠風" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "劉俊謙廖子妤恨去康城參與影展 港產片事隔11年再入選為《九龍城寨之圍城》自豪" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. April 18, 2024. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "九龍城寨之圍城丨首條宣傳片發布　古天樂演龍捲風造型曝光" (in Chinese). TOPick. March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "哇~这个惊喜彩蛋终于被发现了，"杰仔"将会在电影九龙城寨之围城中继续发光发热哦[打call][打call]五一一起看九龙城寨！#电影九龙城寨之围城# #电影九龙城寨今日上映#". Weibo (in Chinese). Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In Official Weibo. May 1, 2024. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "九龍城寨之圍城丨郭富城驚喜現身撐港產片　蔡思韵大力摑古天樂感抱歉" (in Chinese). TOPick. April 26, 2024. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  7. ^ @entertainingpower (November 30, 2021). "今日《九龍城寨•圍城》正式開鏡" – via Instagram.
  8. ^ "Hong Kong's Media Asia Announces Two Donnie Yen Action Vehicles". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 April 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ^ "ACE COP FIGHTING CRIME IN DRAGON CITY". Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Media Asia launches second Hong Kong omnibus project". Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ "【九龍城寨】古天樂回味80年代香港 洪金寶高興可繼續拍香港電影". Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ^ Chan, Ilsa (2 December 2021). "Sammo Hung, 69, Makes Acting Comeback In HK Movie, Says It's Because He Has "No Money"". 8days.sg. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  13. ^ "HK actor Sammo Hung to star in new Louis Koo film because he has 'no money'". Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  14. ^ 沈洛嘉 (November 28, 2021). "《九龍城寨·圍城》開鏡卡士曝光　古天樂林峯劉俊謙演「暴力團」" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "鄭保瑞重塑寨城日常 三不管以外老香港故事" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. April 19, 2024. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g 鄭天儀 (April 30, 2024). "【城寨專訪系列 4】還原城寨移動城堡 另一夢幻「big 貴完」麥國強：「拆景時像失去一個家」｜2024 香港電影" (in Chinese). The Culturist. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e Wong, Nic (April 27, 2024). "《九龍城寨》原著作者余兒專訪｜小說是原點，漫畫發揚光大" (in Chinese). Jet Magazine. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  18. ^ a b 許育民 (April 16, 2024). "九龍城寨之圍城｜3億重現80年代景象　古天樂︰似媽媽的餸難忘" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "慌死疫襲妻女！林峯匿車廂開餐　Cut機光速笠罩" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. March 23, 2022. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "張松枝確診求助無門在家隔離" (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. February 26, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  21. ^ "林峯首亮相ViuTV 唔怕娘家不滿 稱跟無綫冇約：乾乾淨淨" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. April 18, 2022. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference cannes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
[edit]
This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.
Categories:
  • Louis Koo as Cyclone: a martial arts master who strives to protect the safety and stability of the residents in the Kowloon Walled City.[1]
  • Sammo Hung as Mr. Big: a crime lord who is solely focused on maximizing his wealth and personal interests.[2][1]
  • Richie Jen as Chau: a mafia boss-turned-landlord and the blood.[3]
  • Raymond Lam as Chan Lok Kwan (陳洛軍): a refugee who settled in the walled city but became entangled in the chaos within and faced the imminent demolition of the city.[2][4]
  • Terrance Lau as Shin (信一): the loyal second-in-command of Tornado's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[5][2]
  • Kenny Wong as Uncle Tiger (Tiger叔)[5]
  • Philip Ng as Wong Gau (王九): Mr. Big's right-hand man.[1] Cheang modified the settings of Wong in the comics from a martial artist in Qing Dynasty attire with the ability to conjure a canopy aura to a modern hooligan with the power of Chinese spirit possession.[4]
  • Tony Wu as Twelfth Master (十二少): a katana-wielding member of Tornado's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[2][6]
  • German Cheung as AV (四仔): a kickboxer in Tornado's outlaw gang who later becomes a companion to Chan.[2][6] Cheang revised AV's backstory and replaced his iconic face-mask in the comic with a medical gauze mask.[4]
Once Upon a Time in HKDSE
Traditional Chinese公開試當真
Directed byLeung Yik-ho
Produced byHui Yin
Neo Yau
Man Wing-cheung
Chan Yat-long
StarringHui Yin
Tang Ngai-hong
CinematographyLeung Yik-ho
Edited byWilliam Chang
Music byJan Curious
Production
company
Distributed byGolden Scene
Release dates
  • June 23, 2024 (2024-06-23) (Elements)
  • July 4, 2024 (2024-07-04) (Hong Kong)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

Once Upon a Time in HKDSE is a 2024 Hong Kong documentary film produced by the YouTube channel Trial & Error. Starring the channel's founder, Hui Yin, and a secondary school student, Tang Ngai-hong, the film documents their preparation for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examinations and focuses on the exam culture of the city. Originally released on YouTube as a video series, it went viral on the internet and received positive feedback, leading to the production of an expanded and re-edited version as a feature film.

The film premiered on June 23, 2024 at Elements, Hong Kong, followed by a theatrical release on July 4.

Cast

[edit]
Cast Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Ref.
Sylvia Chang Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu
Lee Kang-sheng Tang Niansheng Yong Tang Niansheng
Michael Huang Guo Boxiang Guo Boxiang
David Wu Guo Liren [7]
Tracy Chou Guo Xinyi Yunxin Madame Hong [7][8][9]
Kenny Yen Guo Qichao [7]
Eleven Yao Xiaosu Limin Police officer Zian Zian
Duan Chun-hao Wang Changsheng Police officer Police officer Hao Duan
Hsueh Shih-ling Mourning Hall Mysterious Extra Yunlong Yunlong [10][11]
Nikki Hsieh Red Light District Extra Sijie /Sichun Wu Yuenu Wu Yuenu [10][12][13]
Jason King Baoqiang Duan's father [7]
Garfield Chung Wenjian [7]
JC Lin Guan [7]
Tony Yang Liu Changkun Liu Changkun
Runyin Bai Lun Lun [14]
Buffy Chen Wen Wen [15]
Aileen Tan Yu [16]
Romeo Tan Alun [16]
Ryan Tang Ping [7]
Sean Huang Ayuan / Axiang Axiang
Rima Zeidan Detective Police officer [12]
Heaven Hai Ping's wife [17]
The Last Dance
Traditional Chinese破·地獄
Directed byAnselm Chan
Screenplay byAnselm Chan
Cheng Wai-kei
Produced byAnselm Chan
Jason Siu
Chan Sing-yan
StarringDayo Wong
Michael Hui
Michelle Wai
Chu Pak Hong
CinematographyAnthony Pun
Edited byWilliam Chang
Curran Pang
Music byChu Wan-pin
Production
companies
Distributed byEmperor Motion Pictures
Release dates
Running time
127 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

The Last Dance (Chinese: 破·地獄) is a 2024 Hong Kong drama film directed and written by Anselm Chan. Starring Dayo Wong, Michael Hui, Michelle Wai, and Chu Pak Hong, the film explores themes related to Hong Kong's deathcare and follows a wedding planner (Wong) who enters the funeral industry through a partnership with a traditional Taoist priest (Hui), seeking to understand the meaning of life and death through funeral rituals.

Marking the third feature film as a director, Anselm Chan transitioned from comedy to drama after conceiving the story during the COVID-19 pandemic. He began writing the screenplay while filming Ready or Rot (2023), with principal photography taking place from January to March 2024. The film was shot on location at the Tung Wah Coffin Home and the International Funeral Parlour, marking the first time these venues have opened to the public for filming.

The film had its world premiere on 11 October 2024 at the 44th Hawaii International Film Festival, followed by a theatrical release in Hong Kong on 9 November.

Synopsis

[edit]

Dominic, a wedding planner, is in debt during the pandemic lockdown and is forced to change careers. He takes over his girlfriend Jade's retiring uncle's funeral parlour and meets Master Man, a Taoist priest who performs the funeral ritual "Break Hell's Gate". Initially skeptical of Dominic's commitment to the funeral business, Man is antagonistic. To ease the tension, Dominic visits Man at home, only to be caught in an argument between Man's son Ben, a fellow priest, and daughter Yuet, a paramedic. Yuet expresses her disdain when Man calls her sister-in-law's undergarments "filthy", reflecting the belief that menstruation is impure and limits ancestral powers in Taoist thought.

To modernize the parlour, Dominic decides to accept tailor-made requests and even sells merchandise. However, Master Man, who is strictly traditional, disapproves of Dominic's approach. Their conflict escalates when Dominic agrees to fulfill a special request from a grieving mother who wishes to embalm her son using mummification. While other funeral parlours and Man consider the mother insane and refuse her, her unlimited budget makes Dominic eager to take her on as a client. Initially, Dominic tries to blackmail Ben for help after overhearing that Ben was baptized to allow his son to enter a Catholic school, but Ben rushes off to vomit upon seeing the decayed corpse. Feeling helpless, Man shows up and offers assistance to Dominic in embalming the body. Though Dominic expresses gratitude, Man scolds him, explaining that processing such request would obstruct the boy's reincarnation.

After this incident, Dominic is determined to learn more about the funeral business, seeking out professionals to teach him about corpse transportation, dressing, and embalming. His growing passion impresses Man, who begins to approve of him. During dinner, Dominic shares his life stories and thanks Man for teaching him how to help the deceased, noting that his previous work always focused on the living. Meanwhile, Jade informs Dominic that she is pregnant, but he hesitates about whether they should proceed with the pregnancy.

One evening, Ben's wife reveals at dinner that he has been baptized. The next day, while preparing for a funeral, Man tells Ben he is no longer qualified to be a priest and orders him to leave, suffering a stroke in the process. After learning that Man is paralyzed and requires care, Ben tells Yuet he plans to migrate to Australia since the Catholic school rejected his son. Yuet accuses him of irresponsibility, but Ben confesses he never wanted to be a priest. He was forced into it because the priesthood can only be passed down to males, and feels jealous of Yuet for living a life free from the funeral business.

Once Man is discharged from the hospital, Yuet takes on the responsibility of caring for him. However, Man continues to uphold his patriarchal views, refusing Yuet's help and even slapping her when she tries to bathe him. Eventually, Man reluctantly accepts her assistance and tries to protect her when she is slapped by her cicisbeo's wife on the street. One night, Man calls Dominic to visit and gives him the funeral parlour license, asking him to take care of the business. The following day, Man passes away in his sleep. In his death note, he thanks Dominic for inspiring him to recognize the importance of addressing the feelings of the living, which he had neglected throughout his career, and requests that Dominic oversee his funeral.

During Man's funeral, Dominic announces that Ben and Yuet will serve as the priests to perform "Break Hell's Gate". Many guests from the funeral business scoff and insist that women cannot be Taoist priests. Dominic refutes their sexist arguments and reveals that it was Man's last wish for Yuet to perform the ritual. Man also apologizes to Yuet in the note, admitting he had blindly followed patriarchal traditions without considering her feelings. Although many guests leave in discontent, Ben encourages Yuet and offers to guide her through the process. Together, they perform the ritual and embrace, with Ben apologizing to Yuet.

At last, Ben and Yuet reconcile, and Dominic agrees to proceed with the pregnancy, realizing that the funeral business has helped him understand the value of life and its significance.

Cast

[edit]
  • Dayo Wong as Dominic Ngai, a wedding planner who enters the funeral business during the pandemic[18]
  • Michael Hui as Master "Hello" Man, a reputable Taoist priest strictly loyal to tradition[18]
  • Michelle Wai as Yuet, a paramedic and Master Man's daughter who suffers from her father's patriarchal attitude[19]
  • Chu Pak Hong as Ben, Master Man's son who is forced to become a Taoist priest to uphold the family tradition[19]
  • Catherine Chau as Jade, Dominic's longtime girlfriend and Ming's niece[18]
  • Paul Chun as Uncle Ming, a retiring funeral parlour owner[18]

Also appearing in the film are Elaine Jin as Lin, a restaurant owner near Master Man's funeral parlour who becomes acquainted with Yuet;[20] Chung Suet Ying as Suey, Dominic's loyal assistant who supports his career transition;[21] Rosa Maria Velasco as Miss Yan, a client who wishes to embalm her son’s body;[18] Michael Ning as Lai, a client and businessman whose wife dies from an illness;[20] Rachel Leung as Soso, the best friend of Lai's deceased wife;[20] and Thor Lok as On, Yuet's paramedic colleague.[21] Kaki Sham was cast in a main role as Dominic's younger brother,[22] and Vincent Kok was cast in an undisclosed role, but both of their scenes were cut from the theatrical version, and they received special thanks credits.[23]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Director-screenwriter Anselm Chan conceived the idea of creating a film to explore life and death ten years before the project began, but he felt he "wasn't ready technically or mentally".[24] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he revisited the concept after witnessing numerous deaths around him and began writing the screenplay following his grandmother's passing while he was filming Ready or Rot (2023).[25][26] Chan intended to cast comedic actors during the scriptwriting phase, believing that they possess the highest acting skills and would be most suited to handle the film's solemn themes, and he selected Dayo Wong and Michael Hui due to the commercial success of Wong's A Guilty Conscience (2023) and Hui's performance in the drama film Godspeed (2016).[27] Although Chan was known for making comedies, he described the early drafts of the screenplay as more "dark", which met with opposition from Dayo Wong, Elaine Jin, and Vincent Kok.[28][29] As a result, he refined the screenplay to give it a lighter and more comedic tone before Michael Hui received the script.[29] The screenplay also initially explored themes of sexism in Chinese traditions, inspired by Chan's personal experiences at a relative's funeral.[26] He conducted field research by interviewing various workers in the funeral industry, incorporating real-life events they encountered into the story.[26]

On 2 January 2024, the film was officially announced to be in production with Dayo Wong and Michael Hui as the lead cast, under the Chinese working title "度脫之舞" (lit. The Dance of Relief).[30] The title was changed to "破地獄" (lit. Break Hell's Gate) after filming began.[23] On 4 January, Michelle Wai, Catherine Chau, Chu Pak Hong, Paul Chun, Elaine Jin, and Kaki Sham were revealed to be the rest of the main cast.[31] The film marks Chan's third feature film and the third collaboration with Emperor Motion Pictures.[24] Chu Pak Hong, who is a Christian, was invited to join the cast by Chan while they were filming Ready or Rot, even though Chan was uncertain about whether he would accept the role due to his religious beliefs.[32] To prepare for their roles, Chu and Michelle Wai learned Break Hell's Gate for nine months prior to filming.[33] Although the ritual is traditionally performed only by men, Wai described the Taoist priests as "open-minded" and noted that they did not object to teaching her.[34] In March 2024, the film was presented at the Hong Kong Filmart.[35] In April, Dayo Wong teased that the film would be released in 2024,[36] and an official trailer was released in June.[37] Trinity CineAsia acquired distribution rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland in late October.[38]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began on 4 January 2024 in Tai Po.[39][40] Most of the location shooting took place in Hung Hom, an area known for its high concentration of funeral businesses.[41] The film was shot on-site at the Tung Wah Coffin Home and the International Funeral Parlour, marking the first times for both venues to be opened for filming.[32][42] Filming reportedly wrapped in March,[24] while Anselm Chan noted that post-production lasted for nine months.[43]

Release

[edit]

The Last Dance had its world premiere at the 44th Hawaii International Film Festival on 11 October 2024.[44][45] It was subsequently screened as the opening film of the 21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival,[46][47] and featured in the World Focus section of the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.[48] The film was originally scheduled to premiere on 14 November in Hong Kong, but it was moved up to 9 November due to positive critical reviews from festival screenings.[49]

Reception

[edit]

Richard Kuipers of Variety described The Last Dance as "lovely, life-affirming", highlighting its poignant exploration of life and death through the unlikely partnership of a former wedding planner and a traditional Taoist priest, strengthened by the chemistry between Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, while also praising Michelle Wai as a "particular standout", along with the "polished cinematography" and "terrific production design", and noting the film's insightful commentary on gender roles and personal growth within the context of Hong Kong's deeply rooted Taoist funeral customs.[18] Wendy Ide of Screen Daily describes the film as engaging for its successful blend of domestic drama and humor, offering a "forthright examination of the collision between tradition and feminism" through the "conflicted, strong-willed, and empathetic" character of Yuet, while also acknowledging the vivid depiction of Taoist funeral rituals and the emotionally resonant film score.[19]

Edmund Lee of South China Morning Post gave the film 4/5 stars and called it "one of the best women's empowerment films Hong Kong cinema has seen", particularly praising Michelle Wai's "career-best performance" with her portrayal of her character's conflicted emotions in the face of her father and brother's misogynistic mindsets, and noted the film's powerful themes regarding gender and the search for meaning in life.[50] Keith Ho, writing for HK01, praised the screenplay as "masterful" for redefining the concept of "breaking hell's gate" and highlighting its poignant exploration of life, death, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, while also commending the female ensemble's performances and specifically acknowledging Chu Pak Hong and Michelle Wai for their memorable portrayals of complex characters.[20]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2024 39th Huading Awards Best Actress Michelle Wai Won [51]
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