Asian Film Festival of Dallas 2010

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“Did either of you meet a beautiful woman?”

Honor among thieves, the alluring woman of mystery, a city that lives and breathes…for such clichés, one deserves a master craftsman to make them all seem fresh.  An AFFD favorite, director Johnnie To knows his way around wayward individuals and the synchronized actions of a seasoned team.  With SPARROW, he creates a whimsical story about four pickpockets who find themselves caught up in a woman’s troubles, but the film could also be viewed as a travelogue: the beauty of Hong Kong as seen through the eyes of a man influenced by French New Wave cinema.

Kei (Simon Yam) and his three cohorts work an intricate scheme on the streets of Hong Kong, distracting passersby, picking pockets and avoiding the authorities until they’ve made a nice haul.  But one afternoon, lovely expatriate Chung Chun Lei (Kelly Lin) attracts their individual attention, and soon all four men have been brutally beaten by associates of Mr. Fu Kim Tong (Lo Hoi Pang), the old man who holds Chung’s passport, preventing her from leaving.  Fu is an old-school pickpocket himself, and Kei must face him to gain Chung’s freedom.

Beautifully photographed and light as a feather, SPARROW is an infectious tale that showcases the very best aspects of To’s work in a captivating and evocative showcase.

Director

Johnnie To

Cast

Simon Yam, Kelly Lin, Lam Suet

Country

Hong Kong

Language

Cantonese, English Subtitles, Mandarin

Alternate Titles

文雀

Release Date

2008

Runtime

87 minutes

Exhibition Format

35mm