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Election (2005 film)
Encyclopedia
Election is a 2005
Hong Kong
crime film
directed by Johnnie To
. Featuring a large ensemble cast
, the film stars Simon Yam
and Tony Leung Ka-Fai
as two gang leaders engaged in a power struggle to become the new leader of the Hong Kong
Triad society.
The film premiered as an "Official Selection" at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival
, before being released in Hong Kong on 20 October 2005, with a Category III rating
. A sequel
to the film, Election 2
(also known as Triad Election
in the United States
), concluded the film, and was released in 2006.
are in the process of electing a new chairman, with some last-minute "campaigning" from both Lok (Simon Yam) and Big D (Leung) a few days prior to the election. After bitter arguments from supporters of both candidates in the likes of Uncle Cocky (played by veteran TV actor Tam Ping Man) and Uncle Monk, Lok is elected as the new chairman. However, Big D is dismayed by the result and proceeds to punish two men responsible for his loss by kidnapping them and rolling them down a hill in boxes, prompting ex-chairman Whistle to ask his lieutenant Four-Eye to hide the dragon head baton, which is a symbol of power for the leader.
In the meantime, Chief Superintendent Hui and the police, as well as the police in China arrests all the key figures that include Uncle Teng, Big D, Cocky, Monk and the newly-elected chairman Lok of the Wo Shing in an attempt to avoid infighting within the society. However, during a negotiation attempt in a holding cell, Big D's plans of organizing a new triad society are uncovered, which infuriates both Teng & Hui. Meanwhile, a pursuit of the baton ensues in which Kun (Blacky's henchman), who is recovering the baton for Big D catches up with Big Head (Tally's henchman), who holds the baton and is recovering it for Lok. During the confrontation, Kun severely beats Big Head with a giant log in order for him to hand out the baton when Kun's boss informs him that the plan has changed and that Kun is to recover the baton for Lok. The leaders are eventually released on bail and after hours of never-ending pursuit between Kun, Jimmy, and Jet on route, Lok eventually receives the baton from Jimmy thus making his election official.
Despite negotiations with Big D after his bail, Lok murders his nemesis with a boulder during a fishing trip with his son, Denny, Big D and D's wife after Big D insisted on proposing the idea of two chairmans and the sharing of power between them. As Lok is killing D, D's wife witnesses Lok and makes a run for it causing Lok to murder her too by strangling her against a tree with a log. D and his wife are then buried before Lok drives away with Denny, who becomes petrified after witnessing his dad's brutality as the movie comes to an end.
loved the film so much that his quote stating that Election was "The Best Film Of The Year" was used on the film's United States DVD cover.
, which is considered to be quite high for a film that received a Category III
rating (18+ restriction) in Hong Kong.
for the UK
, ARP Sélection for France
and Hopscotch Films for Australia
, after screening at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival
in competition. (Tartan Films
has acquired all US
rights to this movie as of May 2006.)
, with To also clinching Best Director honors for the movie.
Hong Kong films of 2005
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2005:.-2005:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2005 at * at Hong Kong Film Archive...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Johnnie To
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
. Featuring a large ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
, the film stars Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
and Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Tony Leung Ka-Fai
Tony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective...
as two gang leaders engaged in a power struggle to become the new leader of the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
Triad society.
The film premiered as an "Official Selection" at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival
2005 Cannes Film Festival
The 2005 Cannes Film Festival started on May 11 and ran until May 22. Twenty movies from 13 countries were selected to compete. The awards were announced on May 21...
, before being released in Hong Kong on 20 October 2005, with a Category III rating
Hong Kong motion picture rating system
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system is a legal system of movie screening and rating. An official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres.-History:...
. A sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the film, Election 2
Election 2
Election 2 |Black Society]]: Value Peace Most), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung...
(also known as Triad Election
Election 2
Election 2 |Black Society]]: Value Peace Most), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), concluded the film, and was released in 2006.
Movie synopsis
The movie begins as the two-year term expires, and all the elders of the Wo Shing societyWo Shing Wo
Wo Shing Wo is the original Wo Group Triad, and it is the triad with longest tradition in Hong Kong.Wo Shing Wo was established in Sham Shui Po in 1930 and, while maintaining its traditional stronghold in Tsuen Wan, it has extended its influence to Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok.It also operates in...
are in the process of electing a new chairman, with some last-minute "campaigning" from both Lok (Simon Yam) and Big D (Leung) a few days prior to the election. After bitter arguments from supporters of both candidates in the likes of Uncle Cocky (played by veteran TV actor Tam Ping Man) and Uncle Monk, Lok is elected as the new chairman. However, Big D is dismayed by the result and proceeds to punish two men responsible for his loss by kidnapping them and rolling them down a hill in boxes, prompting ex-chairman Whistle to ask his lieutenant Four-Eye to hide the dragon head baton, which is a symbol of power for the leader.
In the meantime, Chief Superintendent Hui and the police, as well as the police in China arrests all the key figures that include Uncle Teng, Big D, Cocky, Monk and the newly-elected chairman Lok of the Wo Shing in an attempt to avoid infighting within the society. However, during a negotiation attempt in a holding cell, Big D's plans of organizing a new triad society are uncovered, which infuriates both Teng & Hui. Meanwhile, a pursuit of the baton ensues in which Kun (Blacky's henchman), who is recovering the baton for Big D catches up with Big Head (Tally's henchman), who holds the baton and is recovering it for Lok. During the confrontation, Kun severely beats Big Head with a giant log in order for him to hand out the baton when Kun's boss informs him that the plan has changed and that Kun is to recover the baton for Lok. The leaders are eventually released on bail and after hours of never-ending pursuit between Kun, Jimmy, and Jet on route, Lok eventually receives the baton from Jimmy thus making his election official.
Despite negotiations with Big D after his bail, Lok murders his nemesis with a boulder during a fishing trip with his son, Denny, Big D and D's wife after Big D insisted on proposing the idea of two chairmans and the sharing of power between them. As Lok is killing D, D's wife witnesses Lok and makes a run for it causing Lok to murder her too by strangling her against a tree with a log. D and his wife are then buried before Lok drives away with Denny, who becomes petrified after witnessing his dad's brutality as the movie comes to an end.
Cast
- Simon Yam Tat-WahSimon YamSimon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
: Lam Lok - Tony Leung Ka-FaiTony Leung Ka-FaiTony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective...
: Big D - Louis Koo Tin-LokLouis KooLouis Koo is a Hong Kong actor. He was once a notable local television series actor, winning TVB's Best Actor award in 1999 for Detective Investigation Files IV. In recent years, he has focused on film...
: Jimmy Lee - Nick Cheung Ka-FaiNick CheungNick Cheung Ka-fai is a Hong Kong actor. He is married to actress Esther Kwan and the two have a daughter together named Brittany.Cheung was a Royal Hong Kong Police officer for five years and changed his career as an actor with ATV...
: Jet - Eddie Cheung Siu-FaiCheung Siu-FaiEddie Cheung Siu-fai is a Hong Kong actor best known for his many supporting or everyman roles similar to Liu Kai-chi.-Filmography:-TV series:-External links:* on Sina Weibo* at the Hong Kong Cinemagic* on LoveHKFilm.com...
: Mr. So - Lam SuetLam SuetLam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
: Big Head - Gordon Lam Ka-Tung: Kun
- Wong Tin-LamWong Tin-LamWong Tin-Lam was a Chinese screenwriter, producer, director, and actor, who has contributed a lot to the Hong Kong cinema scene with a career spanning six decades...
: Uncle Teng Wai - Maggie Shiu Mei-Kei: Big D's Wife
- David ChiangDavid ChiangJohn Chiang is a Hong Kong actor. His Chinese name is Chiang Da-wei . He is sometimes credited as David Chiang.-Biography:...
: Chief Superintendent Hui - Tam Ping-Man: Uncle Cocky
- Chan Siu-Pang: Uncle Monk
- Wang Chung: Whistle
- Che Biu-Law: Tally
- Robert Hung: Sam
- Kwok Fung: Fish Ball
- Lam Man-wai: Sparky
- Lo Hoi-Pang (voice)
- Ng Ting YipNg Ting YipBerg Ng Ting-yip is a Hong Kong actor. He is best known for his role as Inspector Cheung in the 2002 crime thriller film Infernal Affairs.-Television:*The Undercover Agents *101 Citizen Arrest III...
: Senior Inspector Tad - Andy OnAndy OnAndy On Chi-kit is a Chinese American actor and martial artist.-Biography:On was born on 11 May 1977, in Providence, Rhode Island. As a native to the USA, Andy On can speak English, Mandarin and Cantonese...
- Wong Chi-Wai
- Raymond Wong Ho-Yin: Detective Wong
- Cherrie YingCherrie YingTing Man , better known as Cherrie Ying or Ying Choi-yi, is a Hong Kong actress. She moved to New York City at a young age, and later moved to Hong Kong...
- You YongYou YongYou Yong is a Chinese actor from Xi'an, Shaanxi province.You Yong enrolled in the Xi'an Drama School in 1979 and was joined the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1984. Upon graduation in 1988, he acted in his first film, Obsession, marking the start of his career...
: China Police Captain - Yuen Bo: Dinosaur
- Yuen Bun: Incense Master
Reception
Filmmaker Quentin TarantinoQuentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
loved the film so much that his quote stating that Election was "The Best Film Of The Year" was used on the film's United States DVD cover.
Box office
At the end of its box-office run in Hong Kong, Election grossed about HK$15.59 million in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, which is considered to be quite high for a film that received a Category III
Hong Kong motion picture rating system
The Hong Kong motion picture rating system is a legal system of movie screening and rating. An official government agency issues ratings for any movie that will be shown in Hong Kong movie theatres.-History:...
rating (18+ restriction) in Hong Kong.
Distribution
Election was sold to more than 21 territories, including to Optimum ReleasingOptimum Releasing
StudioCanal UK is a film distributor company working in the UK and Ireland. The company releases many films, including foreign language films, anime releases such as Studio Ghibli's films and independent British, Irish and American films in the UK and sometimes Ireland.Optimum was acquired by...
for the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, ARP Sélection for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hopscotch Films for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, after screening at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival
2005 Cannes Film Festival
The 2005 Cannes Film Festival started on May 11 and ran until May 22. Twenty movies from 13 countries were selected to compete. The awards were announced on May 21...
in competition. (Tartan Films
Tartan Films
Palisades Tartan is a US and UK film distribution company, founded by US-based Palisades Media Group to take over the film library of Tartan Films after it folded in Summer 2008.-History:...
has acquired all US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rights to this movie as of May 2006.)
Awards and nominations
The movie is notable in being nominated for 14 Golden Horse Awards in Hong Kong cinema. The film was named best film of 2005 in the Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsHong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong, China since 1995. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the members of the society...
, with To also clinching Best Director honors for the movie.
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Name | Outcome |
| 25th Hong Kong Film Awards 25th Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony for the 25th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 8 April 2006 in the Hong Kong Coliseum and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo and Chapman To... |
Best Picture | Won | |
| Best Director | Johnnie To Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas... |
Won | |
| Best Actor | Tony Leung Ka-Fai Tony Leung Ka-Fai Tony Leung Ka-fai is a three-time Hong Kong Film Award-winning Chinese film actor.Because he is often confused with actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai is known as "Big Tony", while Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is known as "Little Tony", nicknames which correspond to the actors' respective... |
Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Yau Nai-Hoi Yau Nai-Hoi Yau Nai-Hoi is a Hong Kong filmmaker and screenwriter. He has been known as a popular writer for films directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image. He often collaborates with fellow Milkyway Image writers Wai Ka-Fai, Szeto Kam-Yuen, Au Kin-Yee and Yip Tin-Shing... Yip Tin-Shing Yip Tin-Shing Yip Tin-Shing is a Hong Kong screenwriter.He is a long-time screenwriter for films directed by Johnnie To and/or Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image and frequently works alongside screenwriters Szeto Kam-Yuen, Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-Hoi and Au Kin-Yee.-Writer:... |
Won | |
| Best Actor | Simon Yam Simon Yam Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague.... |
Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Wong Tin-Lam Wong Tin-Lam Wong Tin-Lam was a Chinese screenwriter, producer, director, and actor, who has contributed a lot to the Hong Kong cinema scene with a career spanning six decades... |
Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Maggie Siu Maggie Siu Maggie Shiu Mei-kei , sometimes credited as Maggie Shaw, is a prominent Hong Kong actress.-Career:Her career began in 1985 when she joined Hong Kong TVB. As her career developed, she took on variety of roles in TV series and movies... |
Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer, writer, and director. He is known for frequently collaborating with directors Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai as a cinematographer for their independent film production company, Milkyway Image.-Cinematographer:... |
Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Patrick Tam Kar-Ming | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Lo Tayu Lo Ta-yu Lo Ta-yu or Luo Dayou is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter who, during the 1980s, affected Chinese pop and rock music with his melodic lyrics, his love songs, and his witty social and political commentary that he infused in his more political songs, often to the point that some of his songs were... |
Nominated | |
| Golden Horse Film Awards Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China... |
Best Picture | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Johnnie To Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas... |
Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Yau Nai-Hoi Yau Nai-Hoi Yau Nai-Hoi is a Hong Kong filmmaker and screenwriter. He has been known as a popular writer for films directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image. He often collaborates with fellow Milkyway Image writers Wai Ka-Fai, Szeto Kam-Yuen, Au Kin-Yee and Yip Tin-Shing... Yip Tin-Shing Yip Tin-Shing Yip Tin-Shing is a Hong Kong screenwriter.He is a long-time screenwriter for films directed by Johnnie To and/or Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image and frequently works alongside screenwriters Szeto Kam-Yuen, Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-Hoi and Au Kin-Yee.-Writer:... |
Won | |
| Best Actor | Tony Leung Ka-Fai | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Wong Tin-Lam | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Effects | May Mok May Mok May Mok Mei-Wah is a Hong Kong award-winning sound effects editor, who also specializes in sound mixing, sound design, and ADR recording.-Filmography:*Dead Slowly *Exiled... Charlie Lo |
Won | |
| Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Lo Tayu | Nominated | |
| Best Make-up and Costume Design | Stanley Cheung | Nominated | |
| Best Action Choreography | Wong Chi-Wai | Nominated | |
| Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong, China since 1995. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the members of the society... |
Best Picture | Won | |
| Best Director | Johnnie To | Won | |
| Festival de Cine de Sitges Festival de Cine de Sitges The Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies... |
Best Director | Johnnie To | Won |
See also
- Election 2Election 2Election 2 |Black Society]]: Value Peace Most), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung...
(aka Triad Election) - Johnnie To filmographyJohnnie To filmographyJohnnie To is an award-winning Hong Kong film director, and producer.He has contributed to many projects, as a producer, director or a combination of the two. He made his directorial debut in 1980, when he directed The Enigmatic Case, a film starring Damian Lau...
- List of Hong Kong films
- List of movies set in Hong Kong