BREAKING NEWS · 大事件
Johnnie To · 2004 · Hong Kong · 90 mins
The premiere of Johnnie To’s Breaking News at Cannes marks the moment when art cinema finally embraced the Hong Kong action genre. Here is a film as intelligent as it is tense as it is well-made. From the breathtaking intricacy of its seven-minute opening take, shot on location in a grungy side street in the New Territories, the complex oppositions that form Hong Kong society are subjected to ruthless scrutiny. The familiar opposition of cops and robbers (led by pop-star Richie Jen) is complicated by a further division between no-nonsense street cops (led by Nick Cheung) and the media-savvy inspector (Kelly Chen).
A stake-out goes wrong and a very public shoot-out leads to an official panic. When the violent, though quietly decent bandits are run to ground in a typically cramped apartment building, it sparks a media circus. Inspector Rebecca Fong (Chen) sees the whole thing as a show, as imagery to be manipulated to her advantage, but the outlaws armed with mobile phones and an internet connection, show that two can play that game. Hong Kong may be a city where media spin is king, but To delves beneath the imagery to the gritty realities that make HK truly unique.
EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Limited first-pressing collector’s booklet featuring new essays by film writer Hayley Scanlon & film historian Mike Walsh
- New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng
- “A Propaganda Duel” – a newly extended video essay on Breaking News
- Newly translated and improved optional English subtitles
Archival Extras:
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2004 Q&A with Johnnie To
- Newly unearthed interviews with Johnnie To, Kelly Chen & Nick Cheung at Cannes 2004*
- Behind the scenes
- Deleted scene [Mandrain only]
- Photo gallery
- Theatrical trailer
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
- 2.35:1
- 1080p colour
- Cantonese DTS-HD MA 5.1 · LPCM 2.0
- English subtitles
- Region B
- BD-50
Packaged in a Scanavo full sleeved 14mm clear case with a reversible, numbered sleeve that is clean of classification markings and barcode on the alternative side.Â
* 2004 archival interviews with Johnnie To, Kelly Chen & Nick Cheung courtesy of Frédéric Ambroisine
LABELLED REGION B BUT ACTUALLY ALL REGION
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