Trivisa

Trivisa
Official film poster
Traditional 樹大招風
Simplified 树大招风
Mandarin Shù Dà Zhāo Fēng
Cantonese Syu6 Daai6 Ziu1 Fung1
Directed by Frank Hui
Jevons Au
Vicky Wong
Produced by Johnnie To
Yau Nai-hoi
Screenplay by Loong Man-hong
Thomas Ng
Mak Tin-shu
Starring Gordon Lam
Richie Jen
Jordan Chan
Music by Nigel Chan
Cinematography Zhang Ying
Ray Cheung
Rex Chan
Edited by Allen Leung
David Richardson
Production
company
Distributed by Media Asia Distributions
Release date
  • 12 February 2016 (2016-02-12) (BIFF)
  • 7 April 2016 (2016-04-07) (Hong Kong)
Running time
 96 minutes
Country Hong Kong
Language Cantonese
Budget HK$5 million[1]
Box office HK$9.2 million[2]

Trivisa is a 2016 Hong Kong action crime thriller film produced by Johnnie To and Yau Nai-hoi, featuring the directorial debuts of newcomers Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong. The film is a fictionalized story about three real-life notorious Hong Kong mobsters, Kwai Ping-hung, Yip Kai Foon and Cheung Tze-keung, who are portrayed in the film by Gordon Lam, Richie Jen and Jordan Chan respectively.[3][4] The film had its world premiere at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival's Forum section.[3] The film also opened the 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival[5] on 21 March 2016 and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 7 April.[6]

In Buddhist teaching, Trivisa is the Sanskrit term for the three poisons (or the three unwholesome roots)—greed, anger and delusion—that give rise to suffering.[7]

Plot

In early 1997, mobsters Kwai Ching-hung, Yip Kwok-foon and Cheuk Tze-keung, who have never met one another, are all in Hong Kong. Thereafter, rumour has it that Hong Kong's three most notorious mobsters, known in the underworld as the "Three Kings of Thieves", are plotting together to score a final hit before the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong. However, none are initially aware of the rumour.

Yip is living as a fugitive after a gunfight with the Royal Hong Kong Police. He now makes his fortunes by smuggling counterfeit electronics. Powerful and prestigious in the past, Yip must now grovel to high Chinese officials. Although successful in his business, he becomes depressed. When the rumour comes to him, he feels the urge to give up everything and pick up his gun once again to join forces with the others.

Kwai is very cautious and uses several pseudonyms to hide his identity. Although the scale of his crimes is nowhere as large as Yip's and Cheuk's, but he has managed to commit repeated robberies that are totally unknown to the police. Small-scale robberies, which have become his expertise, have minimal risk but also little profit. As he hears of the rumour, he realizes that he will make a large fortune by collaborating with Yip and Cheuk. He initially restrains himself and chooses to ignore it. However, Kwai begins to have second thoughts.

Cheuk has recently abducted the son of a rich tycoon and successfully extorted a ransom, all while under police surveillance. Wanting to raise the bar for himself, he hears about the rumour and becomes obsessed with the idea, going to extreme lengths to seek out Yip and Kwai.

Cast

  • Gordon Lam as Kwai Ching-hung (季正雄, based on Kwai Ping-hung)
  • Richie Jen as Yip Kwok-foon (葉國歡, based on Yip Kai-foon)
  • Jordan Chan as Cheuk Tze-keung (卓子強, based on Cheung Tze-keung)
  • Tommy Wong as The Fence (銷贓佬)
  • Elliot Ngok as Ho Yu-kei (何裕基)
  • Stephen Au as Inspector Wu (胡警官)
  • Lam Suet as Boss Fong (方老闆)
  • Wan Yeung-ming as Old Dog (老狗)
  • Philip Keung as Fai (大輝)
  • Frankie Ng as Ting (鼎爺)
  • Lau Ka-yung as Master Sai (師傅細)
  • Hung Yan-yan as Kwan-sai (昆西)
  • To Yin-gor as Commander (連長)
  • Zhang Kai as Hong Qi (紅旗)
  • Le Zi-long as Wong Lei (王磊)
  • Thimjapo Chattida as Noon
  • Aoi Ma as Bo (寶兒)
  • Kam Loi-kwan as Kam (阿金)
  • Huang Kai-sen as Chung (阿忠)
  • Jimmy Wong as Fisherman
  • Yuen Fu-wah as Chief Chen (陳科)
  • Yan Zi-fei as Chief Chen's mistress
  • Law Chi-sing as Gui (阿貴)
  • Ho Ka-wah as Guang (阿廣)
  • Hui Ping-hang as Chief Long (龍科)
  • Li Ying-to as Chief Song (宋局)
  • Leung Kin-ping as Manager Fok (霍經理)
  • Chiu Chi-shing as Condor (秃鷹)
  • Lee Man-piu as Lung (速龍)
  • Keung Kam-shan as Policewoman
  • Keung Kam-kui as Policeman
  • Wong Wai-tong as Policeman
  • Law Tsin-wong as News reporter
  • Yu Tat-chi as Cheng Kin-kuen (鄭建權)
  • Yang Yu-fei as Customs officer
  • Hu Bin-hui as Comrade
  • Flora Cheung as Informer
  • Lam Ka-shing as Customers officer
  • Wong Gar-ling as Informer
  • Jamie Lee as Informer
  • Chow Pok-fu as Informer
  • Yan Ngai-to as Informer
  • Wong Che-keuong as Informer
  • Ng Kwok-ming as Informer
  • Cheung Pet-wu as Informer
  • Yeung Sai-ho as Policeman
  • Ursula Lin as Waitress
  • Kwok Yuk-keung as Policeman
  • Ho Ka-fai as Informer
  • Daniel Kwok
  • Skyline Leung

Reception

Critical

Clarence Tsui of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive praising the performances of Richie Jen and Gordon Lam, the editing by Allen Leung and David Richardson and calls it "an impressive calling card signalling brighter cinematic futures."[3] Fionaauala Halligan of Screen Daily praised the film's set design and editing and believes the film will "clearly attract festival interest.".[8] Edmond Lee of the South China Morning Post rated film a score of 4/5 stars and praises the film's bold vision and how newcomer directors Frank Hui, Jevons Au and Vicky Wong "couldn't have made a stronger start to their fledgling careers."[9]

Mainland China

Trivisa was banned in Mainland China. When it won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film in 2017, the broadcast was blacked out on Mainland TVs.[10]

In late 2015, Cheung Wai-chuen, owner of a film properties company, and Law Yun-lam, a logistics firm employee, were arrested for possession of counterfeit money that was used in Trivisa without the proper permits for storage and transportation, which the film's producers were responsible for securing.[11] Despite being marked as props, the judge felt that the fake money looked too real: saying "Nobody could rule out the risk of people stealing these fakes and using them as real money." Cheung and Law were sentenced to four months in prison by a Hong Kong district court in May 2018, a sentence that was suspended for two years. The Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers condemned the case stating "This is against the industry's dedication to professionalism in filmmaking. The authorities' took on a case that case was unjust. Members of the Hong Kong film industry are not only disappointed and furious, it also sends shivers down our spines." Some film industry members suspected the case was influenced by Mainland China.[10]

Box office

The film grossed HK$3,392,095 during its first three days of release in Hong Kong and opening at No. 3 during its debut weekend.[12] By the end of its fifth week, the film has grossed about HK$9,180,000.[2]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
Ceremony Category Recipient Outcome
53rd Golden Horse Awards[13] Best Feature Film Trivisa Nominated
Best New Director Frank Hui, Jevons Au, Vicky Wong Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Loong Man-hong, Thomas Ng, Mak Tin-shu Won
Best Makeup & Costume Design Suki Yip Nominated
Best Film Editing Allen Leung, David Richardson Won
11th Asian Film Awards Best Actor Richie Jen Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Lam Suet Won
Best Screenplay Mak Tin-shu, Loong Man-hong, Thomas Ng Nominated
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award[14] Best Film Trivisa Won
Best Actor Gordon Lam Won
36th Hong Kong Film Awards[15] Best Film Trivisa Won
Best Director Frank Hui, Jevons Au, Vicky Wong Won
Best Screenplay Loong Man Hong, Thomas Ng, Mak Tin Shu Won
Best Actor Richie Jen Nominated
Gordan Lam Won
Best Supporting Actor Philip Keung Nominated
Best Film Editing Allen Leung, David Richardson Won

See also

References

  1. ↑ "杜琪峰監製新片柏林亮相 《樹大招風》告訴我們香港何為香港" (in Traditional Chinese).
  2. 1 2 "樹大招風 - 偶像劇場" (in Traditional Chinese). dorama.info. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  3. 1 2 3 Tsui, Clarence (2016-02-16). "'Trivisa' ('Shu Dai Jiu Fung'): Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  4. ↑ "【樹大招風】杜琪峰監製 香港三大賊王被搬上螢幕". 橙新聞 (in Traditional Chinese). 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  5. ↑ Marsh, James (2016-02-24). "CHONGQING HOT POT, TRIVISA To Open 40th Hong Kong International Film Festival - Full Line-Up Announced". TwitchFilm. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  6. ↑ "Trivisa - The Metroplex". www.metroplex.com.hk. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  7. ↑ Seto, Kit Yan. "Hong Kong/Taiwan stars appear in Trivisa for (almost) free". Star2.com. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  8. ↑ Halligan, Fionnuala (2016-02-25). "'Trivisa': Berlin Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  9. ↑ "Film review: Trivisa – Hong Kong criminals at crossroads in 1997-set drama".
  10. 1 2 "Hong Kong Court Convicts Props Master for Possession of Fake Cash". The Variety. 2018-05-31. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  11. ↑ "A Crackdown on Film Props Angers Hong Kong's Cinephiles". The New York Times. 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  12. ↑ "Hong Kong Box Office April 7–10, 2016".
  13. ↑ "2016 台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival".
  14. ↑ "'Trivisa' Named Best Film by Hong Kong Critics".
  15. ↑ "Nomination and Awardees list of The 36th Hong Kong Film Awards".
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