**Johnnie To** (Chinese: 杜琪峰; pinyin: Dù Qí Fēng) was born on April 22nd, 1955, in Hong Kong. His career, extending over 25 years, has established him as one of the leading directors in Hong Kong cinema.
In the 1980s, To achieved significant commercial success, a period when the Hong Kong film industry was thriving. This success marked the initial phase of his career, where he primarily focused on mainstream cinematic productions.
The mid-90s represented a turning point for To, with the creation of his film production company, **Milkyway Image (HK) Ltd.** This venture signaled a shift towards more personal and distinctive projects, diverging from his earlier mainstream work. Under Milkyway Image, To began to explore new themes and styles, thereby contributing significantly to the evolution of Hong Kong cinema.
To’s unique film aesthetic started gaining recognition in the West towards the late 90s and early 2000s, particularly through his participation in international film festivals. Films such as **”The Mission”** and **”Fulltime Killer”** were instrumental in showcasing his unique style, which blended traditional elements of Hong Kong cinema with his innovative approach. These films not only received critical acclaim but also played a pivotal role in introducing To’s filmmaking style to a global audience.
A significant highlight of To’s career was the premiere of **”Breaking News”** at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival, where it featured in the Official Selection program. This exposure further enhanced his international reputation. Following this, his film **”Throw Down”** was invited to the Venice International Film Festival in the same year, demonstrating his versatility as a filmmaker and the growing international interest in his work.
The year 2005 marked another major milestone for To, with his film **”Election”** competing at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received widespread critical acclaim and led to 11 nominations at the Taipei Golden Horse Awards. It achieved considerable success, winning Best Picture and Best Director at the 2006 Hong Kong Film Awards. These accolades not only recognized To’s exceptional skills as a director but also his significant contributions to the Hong Kong film industry.
The evolution of **Johnnie To**’s career, from his local success in the 1980s to international acclaim in the 2000s, underscores his development as a filmmaker. His ability to adapt to new themes and maintain a commitment to personal and innovative storytelling has solidified his status as a key figure in the Hong Kong film industry.
Sammi Cheng plays Mimi Mo, a young exchange student to Japan who met and fell in love with a budding pianist, Kurokawa, played by Rikiya Kurokawa. Kurokawa eventually leaves to study music in the USA and returns to Japan as a famous musician. Meanwhile, Mimi has dealt with her depression by eating and weights over 300lbs and Kurokawa doesn’t recognize her. Mimi eventually meets Fatty (Andy Lau) who helps her lose the weight so she … Read more
Professional assassin O has resided in an isolated world of killing and loneliness. But his life begins to change once he meets the innocent Chin, hired to clean O’s apartment. However, soon the flamboyent and reckless Tok enters Chin’s life with a mission–to unveil O’s identity and usurp his place as the number one sharp-shooting assassin in the game.
Andy is a legendary Mahjong player. Years ago Andy’s passion for Mahjong cost his family their entire fortune, his brother Louis then turned against him. Thus now Louis suffers from economy downturn. Andy offers to take care of him and their aging mother. Meanwhile, Louis is being trapped by a job interview supervisor and her cons, Sean. Andy revenged Sean by beating him at the game table. Gigi, Andy’s ex-flame, is increasing disappointment in Andy’s … Read more
Lost in the woods, the Emperor Qi (Anita Mui) stumbles across local chief Wu Yen (Sammi Cheng), his predestined bride, only to accidentally free a promiscuous fox fairy (Cecilia Cheung) who promptly falls in love with both of them, changing between man and woman to clumsily woo each, setting the scene for a constantly shifting triangle with the emperor torn between both the fox fairy and Wu Yen and the fox fairy after whichever one … Read more
A trio of idealistic young doctors take on a corrupt, ineffective hospital management more interested in saving dollars than lives. Sub-plots crop up in the form of a love triangle, an electrical blackout, and a major car accident.
In this “cops and robbers” film, a raid on a jewelry store staged by a band of amateur hold-up artists goes horribly wrong, leading to a shoot-out. The elite Organized Crime Bureau team, headed by Captain Ching King Gen, is poised to go into action at a moment’s notice. Working as a unit, they bring law and order to Hong Kong streets, where they must rely on their courage and skills to survive.
Jack and Martin are members of rival Chinese triads in the middle of a gang war. Both of their gang leaders like to get advice from a fortune teller living in Thailand. On one such trip, Martin’s gang ambushes Jack’s at a Thai hotel. There is a spectacular shootout, in which both Martin and Jack are severely wounded. The leader of Jack’s gang was at the hotel, unlike Martin’s, and escapes. Afterwards, both gang leaders, … Read more
Over the course of one night, a team of cops frantically search for their colleague’s missing gun. Two years in the making, Johnnie To’s police thriller PTU focuses on just a single night’s action. Scruffy police sergeant Lo (Lam Suet) stumbles into a gangland mess when he visits a restaurant early in the evening.
A friendship is formed between an ex-gangster, and two groups of hitmen – those who want to protect him and those who were sent to kill him. Synopsis The time is 1998. The setting is Macau. Every living soul jumps at every chance to make quick money before the Portuguese colony ushers in a new era under the Chinese rule. For the jaded hit men, they wonder where this journey will end. Against this background … Read more
Realising that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to buy time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for … Read more
Hong Kong action auteur Johnnie To indulges his silly side with this hilariously inventive sequel to his hit romantic comedy, about two former lovers who find themselves irresistibly drawn back together — despite the fact that each of them is engaged to someone else.
A monk turned body-builder, with the gift to see into people’s lives, befriends a female cop, and uses his gift to change the force of Karma and her destiny.
After his new bride dumps him at their wedding reception, a heartbroken actor (Louis Koo) winds up in the Himalayas, where he meets and falls in love with a widowed fan (Sammi Cheng).
The taciturn police commander Zhang leads an undercover drugs team and in his continuous battle against the ubiquitous drug barons, takes up arms against his arch enemy, Timmy Choi. When he gets hold of Choi, he makes a deal with him: in exchange for his life (in China you can get the death penalty for producing only 50 grams of drugs) the young criminal will help the police infiltrate a sizeable drug network.
A cop is forced into early retirement due to retinal damage. But after witnessing a bank robbery along with a female inspector – who believes he has acute senses – they team up in hope to solve the case.
A former Judo champion is given the chance to redeem himself after he befriends a competitor and an aspiring singer.