JOHNNIE TO: ACTION AUTEUR
July 6 - August 18
Part of the 13th annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, cosponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
Johnnie To is one of Hong Kong's most prolific and accomplished directors. Although he has worked in multiple movie genres, hybrid genres, and genre-defying categories of his own creation, he is most closely associated with action-packed criminal thrillers. To has worked with most of the major HK stars, from Stephen Chow to Maggie Cheung to Andy Lau, and while his films are now regularly programmed at international film festivals, they are still barely shown commercially in the West. This retrospective of some of To's major work offers viewers the opportunity to become acquainted with one of the most talented filmmakers working today.
All films are in Cantonese with English subtitles unless otherwise indicated.
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AFI Member passes will be accepted at all screenings in the Johnnie To: Action Auteur series.
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 MAD DETECTIVE
Ching-wan Lau is a cop who can sense the paranormal in a "wild, hilarious, and thoroughly disturbing entertainment."- Vancouver Film Festival. "A jolt of energy. Bullets, elegant mayhem and an homage to Orson Welles's LADY FROM SHANGHAI follow amid circling cameras; bodies in fast, furious motion; and shattered film space. Reaffirms [Johnnie To's] status as an action master."- Manhola Dargis, The New York
Times.
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; DIR/SCR/PROD Wai Kafai; SCR Au Kin Yee. 2007, Hong Kong, China, color, 89 min. NOT RATED
Sunday, July 6, 9:45 - Show Canceled; Monday, July 7, 9:20
This film will be presented digitally.
 THE MISSION
After an attempt on the life of triad boss Eddy Ko, his brother Simon Yam recruits a motley quintet of killers to act as Ko's bodyguards, including former hairdresser Anthony Wong, pudgy overeater Lam Suet, studly Jackie Lui, cheerful Roy Cheung and explosive Francis Ng. Coming together to do the job, the five very different men forge close bonds of friendship. But when Ko orders one of the men to be killed as punishment for having an affair with his wife, their friendship and professionalism
is put to the test.
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; SCR Nai-Hoi Yau. 1999, Hong Kong, China, color, 81 min.
Sunday, July 13, 9:15; Monday, July 14, 9:15
 FULLTIME KILLER
Andy Lau stars as Tok, a movie-loving killer for hire in this sleek action film from
Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. On the trail of his arch enemy, known only as O (Takashi Sorimachi), Andy Lau plots elaborate schemes to get rid of him based on scenes from his favorite movies. A film buff's delight, FULLTIME KILLER is crammed with movie references and jaw-dropping action set pieces.
DIR/PROD Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai; SCR Wai Ka-Fai and Joey O'Bryan, based on the novel by Ho-Cheung Pang; PROD Andy Lau. Hong Kong, 2001, color, 102 min. In English, Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese and Italian with English subtitles. RATED R
Sunday, July 20, 9:45; Monday, July 21, 8:40; Sunday, July 27, 9:10 - Just Added!; Monday, July 28, 9:00 - Just Added!
 PTU
That's PTU, as in "police tactical unit," set up to take down the Hong Kong triads. No-nonsense captain Simon Yam must deal with the fallout after screw-up Sergeant Lam Suet loses his police revolver in a run-in with local mobsters. A frantic all-night pursuit ensues.
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; SCR Nai-Hoi Yau & Kin Yee Au. 2003, Hong Kong, China, color, 85 min. RATED R
Sunday, July 27, 9:10; Monday, July 28, 9:00
Due to circumstances beyond our control, screenings of PTU have been canceled. Added shows of FULLTIME KILLER will replace PTU.
 BREAKING NEWS
A police-versus-gunmen showdown turns into media warfare in this Cannes-selected thriller, a DOG DAY AFTERNOON on the streets of Hong Kong. (Note courtesy Pacific Film Archive)
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; SCR Hing-Ka Chan and Tin-Shing Yip; PROD Cao Biao. Hong Kong/China, 2004, color, 88 min. In Mandarin and Cantonese with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Sunday, August 3, 9:45; Monday, August 4, 9:15
 ELECTION
ELECTION takes place among the Wo Sing, the most venerable Triad clan of Hong Kong. The elders who rule the organization are about to elect a new chief, and a
rivalry emerges between two eligible candidates. Lok (Simon Yam) is wise, cautious and favored for the coveted position, but the fiery and aggressive Big D (Hong Kong superstar Tony Leung) refuses to concede.
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; SCR Nai-Hoi Yau, Tin-Shing Yip; PROD Dennis Law. 2005, Hong Kong, China, color, 100 min. In English, Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Sunday, August 10, 9:45; Monday, August 11, 9:30
 ELECTION II (TRIAD ELECTION)
ELECTION II (TRIAD ELECTION) is set two years later as the election starts again. Jimmy (Louis Koo) is a 21st-Century gangster with an MBA. He is using the triads to get on the fast track to financial success and winning the election would consolidate his land deals on the mainland. Embarking on a violent campaign, he realizes the fate of the Wo Sing hangs in the balance of a far greater power. (Note courtesy Toronto Film Festival)
DIR/PROD Johnnie To; SCR Nai-Hoi Yau and Tin-Shing Yip; PROD Dennis Law. Hong Kong, 2006, color, 92 min. In Mandarin and Cantonese with English subtitles. NOT RATED
Sunday, August 17, 9:45; Monday, August 18, 9:30
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